Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) awarded The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York a Project Grant of $821,018 (awarded May 1, 2026; completion date February 28, 2031) under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847). The research initiative focuses on elucidating the mechanisms of celiac disease (CD) pathogenesis, specifically investigating how gluten-specific CD4+ T cells and cytotoxic CD8+ and gamma-delta T cells contribute to small intestinal tissue damage. The project deliverables include mechanistic studies dissecting how gluten modulates natural T cell populations in CD patients and identifying tissue-derived factors that unleash the cytotoxic capacity of intraepithelial lymphocytes, with the ultimate goal of advancing understanding of autoimmune disease mechanisms applicable beyond celiac disease.

This research represents a significant opportunity to advance therapeutic interventions for celiac disease, one of the most prevalent autoimmune disorders worldwide with currently limited treatment options beyond a lifelong gluten-free diet. The project leverages the unique advantage of celiac disease as a model autoimmune condition where the triggering antigen—dietary gluten—is known and controllable, enabling rigorous investigation of human autoimmunity pathways. Conducted at Columbia University's Health Sciences Division in New York, the research findings may inform development of novel treatment strategies and provide insights applicable to understanding broader mechanisms of autoimmune-mediated tissue destruction.