Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( 🔒 ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Need Help

Cellular, molecular and epigenetic mechanisms of allergic diseases

Award Number: U19AI198425
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/10/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2031

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Cellular, molecular and epigenetic mechanisms of allergic diseases - OVERVIEW – ABSTRACT Asthma and other allergic/atopic disorders remain a major public health problem. Despite the enormous progress, a knowledge gap regarding the genomic mechanism of allergic sensitization and propagation of allergic memory throughout the lifespan and across generations exists. The overall goal of this U19 application is to delineate the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms of allergic sensitization of innate immune cells. Our hypothesis is that allergens and environmental toxicants (diesel exhaust particles, DEP) induce asthma through formation of allergic memory in hematopoietic stem cells, ILC2s and NK cells. A recall of this memory by an allergen produces allergic symptoms. Formation of memory for allergens is facilitated by the presence of genetic risk variants. In healthy subjects, in the absence of risk variants, allergens induce fitness memory. A recall of this memory suppresses the type-2 response and elicits a defensive response. We propose two projects, and two cores. Project 1 (Leader: Rafeul Alam) hypothesizes that memory formation in ILCs is driven by a set of epigenetic motifs that drive chromatin accessibility. In atopic subjects the epigenetic motifs drive the formation of allergic memory whereas in healthy subjects a different set of motifs establishes fitness memory that benefits the host. The proposed aims will delineate the gene accessibility profile and epigenetic motifs associated with allergic and fitness memory in blood ILCs from allergic and healthy subjects, examine the evolution of epigenetic motifs during and after the rush immunotherapy, perform mechanistic studies of chromatin remodeling, and conduct, in a mouse model of asthma, gene knockout and pharmacologic interventions. Project 2 (Leader: Magdalena M. Gorska) hypothesizes that maternal DEP induces asthma predisposition in offspring through induction of an allergic memory program in HSCs. HSC programing by DEP starts in the embryonic aorta-gonad-mesonephros region (AGM), and includes instructions to continuously generate pro-allergic spondin-2high NK cells. The proposed aims will examine the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms of DEP-induced allergic memory in HSCs, memory transmission from HSCs to NK cells, the link between the early life exposure to DEP and development of allergic memory+ NK cells in human asthma and the role of NK cell-derived spondin-2 in the type-2 immune response. A Data Stewardship Core (Leader, James Crooks) will manage data collection, storage, confidentiality, quality control, and submission of data to the NCBI website and also provide statistical and bioinformatic service. An Administrative Core (Leader: Rafeul Alam) will coordinate interactions among the projects/cores, and prepare annual progress reports and organization of the advisory committee meetings. HSCs, ILCs and NK cells are the first cells that encounter allergens and environmental toxicants and form allergic memory, which is the driver of allergic disorders. This U19 proposes pioneering experiments that examines allergic memory, a process seminal to origin of allergy.


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 = $1,412,216 )
2026	2026	NATIONAL JEWISH HEALTH	1400 JACKSON ST	DENVER	CO	80206	DENVER	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	9/10/2026	NEW	$1,412,216
														Subtotal = $1,412,216

Grand Total All Awards = $1,412,216

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Cellular, molecular and epigenetic mechanisms of allergic diseases

Award Number: U19AI198425

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/10/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2031

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer