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Cellular and molecular regulation of tissue-resident memory CD8+ T cell proliferation

Award Number: DP2AI200992
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2031

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Cellular and molecular regulation of tissue-resident memory CD8+ T cell proliferation - Project Summary/Abstract Tissue-resident immune cells are seeded within tissues starting during development and continuing throughout life. During this process, differentiation occurs into functionally distinct and tissue-adapted subsets which can then persist for years, decades, or even life. However, our understanding of immunology is largely skewed towards easily accessible circulating populations and in vitro cultures. This proposal addresses tissue-resident memory CD8+ T cells (TRM), which are typically elicited by infection and serve as first responders. TRM allow the immune system to quickly recreate a prior immune response if the eliciting pathogen later returns and to do so at the site of re-exposure before dissemination occurs. TRM are capable of locally controlling infection as well as cancer. Another remarkable feature of TRM is their seemingly lifelong capacity to undergo cell cycling. This is essential for the very existence of stable TRM populations independent of the circulation. How this process occurs is unclear, and it is controversial whether such proliferation is restricted to stem cell-like subsets. The applicant proposes to address this knowledge gap by characterizing the cellular and molecular dynamics of cell division for TRM to identify novel regulatory mechanisms as potential therapeutic targets. The hypothesis underlying this application is that TRM proliferate via a hybrid state, meaning that an individual cell can exhibit both stem cell-like proliferation and advanced differentiation to enable effector functions. Funding via the DP2 mechanism would accelerate this innovative and interdisciplinary research unlikely to be supported via traditional funding mechanisms and kickstart the applicant’s independent group (began August 2025). Identifying the cellular and molecular drivers of TRM self-renewal is likely to provide novel targets for therapeutic enhancement and ablation of tissue-resident immunity, with potential applications in infectious disease, autoimmunity, and cancer.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $510,000 )
2026	2026	VERSITI BLOOD HEALTH, INC.	638 N 18TH ST	MILWAUKEE	WI	53233	MILWAUKEE	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	8/25/2026	NEW	$510,000
														Subtotal = $510,000

Grand Total All Awards = $510,000

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Cellular and molecular regulation of tissue-resident memory CD8+ T cell proliferation

Award Number: DP2AI200992

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2031

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