The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has awarded a grant to Nicholas Jendzjowsky, PhD, an investigator with The Lundquist Institute (TLI) in Torrance, California, to fund his study, "Asthmatic inflammation requires neuronal upregulation of B-cells." The study is designed to identify potential drug targets and new strategies to mitigate the rise of allergic asthma.
The nearly $300,000 grant will boost TLI’s work in respiratory medicine and exercise physiology. Dr. Jendzjowsky’s research began in March and will run until January 2025. Asthma results from an overproduction of the immunoglobulin E (IgE) molecule, leading to allergic and asthmatic inflammation. The project takes a pioneering approach to unraveling the intricate role of sensory neurons in the overproduction of IgE in allergic asthma.
Early data suggests an association between sensory neurons influencing B-cell IgE production. Dr. Jendzjowsky’s research will explore the neuronal circuit through two comprehensive goals, using cutting-edge techniques ranging from electrophysiological recording and calcium imaging to neural tracer technology and chemogenetic tools.
At the conclusion of the study, Dr. Jendzjowsky hopes to share a deeper understanding of asthma at a molecular level and identify new drug targets and strategies for asthma management.
