Project Grant R21AI199345

Northwestern University's Sponsored Research Division received a $154,394 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855). The award, effective June 18, 2026, through May 31, 2028, supports research into developing a novel technology for studying T cell differentiation in vivo using single-cell CRISPR-sequencing (scCRISPR-seq) methodologies combined with ribonucleoprotein complex transfection approaches.

The research initiative addresses critical limitations in current T cell biology screening methods by advancing scCRISPR-seq capabilities for primary T cells in physiological settings. Rather than relying on traditional viral vector-based delivery systems that compromise biological relevance and trigger immunogenicity, the project leverages ribonucleoprotein transfection technology to achieve efficient gene editing without in vitro activation requirements. This advancement enables large-scale, in vivo genetic screens capable of simultaneously assessing genetic perturbations and high-dimensional cellular phenotypes at the single-cell level, thereby improving the ability to distinguish genes with diverse mechanisms of action in T cell development and function. The resulting technology and methodological framework will support enhanced understanding of immunological mechanisms and inform future infectious disease and immunology research applications.