Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded a $3.6 million Project Grant under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) to J. David Gladstone Institutes, effective February 6, 2026 through January 31, 2030. The award funds comprehensive research to elucidate the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms governing regulatory T cell (Treg) identity and function. The project delivers basic immunological research focused on understanding how key transcription factors and RNA-binding proteins control FOXP3 expression and Treg stability. Aim 1 involves mapping transcription factor binding sites and employing base editing techniques to identify critical cis-regulatory elements that modulate FOXP3 expression in human Tregs. Aim 2 investigates the novel post-transcriptional regulation of FOXP3 by the RNA-binding protein YBX1, with preliminary data indicating that YBX1 knockout enhances FOXP3 levels and prevents Treg destabilization under inflammatory conditions.

The project incorporates a sub-award to the Regents of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) effective March 20, 2026, with the Tang Lab conducting collaborative functional experiments supporting Aim 2. UCSF's contribution involves performing functional studies using both mouse and human T cells to investigate YBX1's role in controlling Treg lineage stability and function, with joint responsibility for data reporting and publication of findings alongside the Marson Lab at Gladstone Institutes. This collaborative arrangement leverages complementary expertise to advance understanding of immune homeostasis mechanisms relevant to autoimmune disease prevention.