Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded a $237,919 Project Grant to the University of Pittsburgh under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) for the period May 4, 2026 through April 30, 2028. This award supports investigator-initiated biomedical research into the mechanisms by which microbes regulate tolerogenic dendritic cells in oral tolerance, with specific application to celiac disease (CD), a chronic immune-mediated disorder triggered by gluten ingestion in genetically susceptible individuals. The research will employ genetic models and advanced immunological tools to determine whether dendritic cells expressing the transcription factor RORγt (RORγt+ dendritic cells) are essential for promoting regulatory T cell responses to dietary gluten and to evaluate how viral and microbial infections alter this tolerance response.

The project generates scientific knowledge and methodological advances aimed at understanding disease mechanisms underlying celiac disease and identifying potential therapeutic targets. Rather than limiting treatment to the current standard of care—a lifelong gluten-free diet that remains ineffective for 40-60% of patients—this research explores how environmental microbial factors influence immune tolerance to gluten, potentially enabling development of alternative therapeutic strategies. Research activities will be performed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, utilizing the university's research infrastructure and expertise in immunology and infectious disease mechanisms.