The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center (UNM HSC) was awarded a $221,888 Project Grant under the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' (NIAID) Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855). The grant will fund research to explore mechanisms for inducing apoptosis in pathogenic Th17 cells, which play a role in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The project aims to target the IRE1 and STAT3 signaling pathways in Th17 cells as a potential therapeutic approach to diminish their disease-causing function. The research will initiate preclinical studies to further develop this approach. The grant performance period runs from January 2025 through December 2026.