Changing Lives Through Groundbreaking Science
Using robust scientific and lay review, in the 2024 cycle, the GI Research Foundation awarded $600,000 to eight investigators at the University of Chicago for novel research projects.
2024 Innovation Awards
Understanding Colon-Specific Regulatory T Cells and their Cellular Crosstalk in Ulcerative Colitis
David Zemmour, MD PhD
THE PROBLEM
When the body’s immune defenses mistakenly attack the colon, it can lead to diseases like Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and immune-checkpoint blockade-induced (ICI) colitis. These conditions cause inflammation and discomfort, such as pain and diarrhea, and profoundly disrupt patients’ lives.
At the heart of ICI colitis are Tregs, special cells that act as the body’s internal peacekeepers, keeping our immune system from mistakenly attacking our own tissues. In ICI colitis, these peacekeepers fail to do their job, and we don’t fully understand why.
In the case of ICI colitis, the stakes are even higher. When colitis strikes, it can halt potentially lifesaving cancer therapies, presenting a profound loss of opportunity for patients.
THE HYPOTHESIS
By studying Tregs directly within the human colon, we can unravel this mystery of why the body attacks itself.
THE RESEARCH PLAN
By using cutting-edge technologies of high-resolution microscopy and sequencing, we hope to uncover how Tregs communicate with other cells, where their messaging goes wrong, and what triggers this breakdown in communication. We will map out the cellular interactions of Tregs and understand their language.
THE GOAL
- New insights into the disease and find ways to restore Tregs’ peacekeeping capabilities.
- Innovative treatments for ICI colitis, offering relief to those affected, the ability to treat when needed, and improving the quality of life for many patients.
“These grants focus on research that advances the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and cure of digestive diseases. Additionally, the goals of the grants program include to:
- Help build the field by funding emerging scientific leaders
- Provide seed funding for innovative ideas that, if successful, could result in larger grants from funders such as the National Institutes of Health
- Fund bold research ideas that might have risk of failure but high reward for success, as these projects have difficulty securing funding elsewhere
Thank you to our grant review committee members and scientific advisors who read and scored proposals with a focus on ensuring the recommended projects meet our mission and are centered on advancing patient care and outcomes.”
