Project Grant R21AI201102

Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded a $245,250 Project Grant under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) to the Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center for the period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028. The research investigates the role of substance P, a neuropeptide released by sensory neurons, in driving immunoglobulin E (IgE) overproduction in asthma. The project examines how substance P binding to mrgpra1 receptors on B cells controls transcription factors that influence cell fate, maturation, and class switch recombination—mechanisms underlying asthmatic inflammation. Preliminary findings demonstrate that substance P is preferentially released during asthma induction, and that sensory neuron depletion reduces both substance P release and IgE production, while substance P knockout mice produce significantly less IgE compared to wild-type littermates.

The research will be conducted at the institute's facility in Torrance, California, and will generate novel mechanistic insights into how neuronal-immune interactions contribute to asthmatic pathophysiology. The expected deliverables include scientific findings on the substance P-B cell signaling axis, experimental data from two planned aims investigating this neuropeptide-mediated pathway, and contributions to the understanding of IgE overproduction—findings that could inform therapeutic strategies for managing asthmatic inflammation and allergic responses.