# Project 2: Genesis and dynamics of human endometrial resident memory T cells revealed by uterus transplant recipients

> **NIH NIH U19** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2024 · $384,036

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Project 2: Genesis and dynamics of human endometrial resident memory T cells revealed by uterus
transplant recipients
Most T cells in the human body are located within individual tissues as antigen-experienced, resident memory T
cells (TRM). However, much of the scientific knowledge about human T cells has been generated from studies of
peripheral blood and secondary lymphoid organs where most T cells are naive. Unfortunately, many of the
lessons learned from T cells in peripheral blood may therefore not apply to tissue resident immune cells because
tissue environments shape immune cell differentiation and responses in ways that do not occur in other anatomic
compartments. We therefore lack the knowledge necessary to manipulate tissue resident cells to our advantage
to treat a variety of diseases and patient populations. Tissue resident memory T cells are an antigen-experienced,
adaptive immune population that play a critical role in protective immunity to pathogens. We address this
knowledge gap in this proposal through the study of TRM in the human uterine endometrium. Notably, TRM
recruitment, composition, and longevity may be distinctly different in the human endometrium versus other
tissues because the endometrium undergoes hundreds of cycles of coordinated tissue loss and regeneration
over the course of a lifetime. We have combined cutting-edge next generation sequencing methodologies with
access to the endometrium of healthy control volunteers and human uterus transplant recipients to answer
questions about TRM trafficking and differentiation that will advance our understanding of human tissue immunity.
We expect that this proposal will have particular impact for women's health and transplant recipients but may
also inform vaccine strategies and cancer therapeutics as well. In summary, we expect that the knowledge
generated by this proposal can be used to expand our capabilities to modulate the human immune system and
treat a variety of human diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10824858
- **Project number:** 1U19AI181105-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** PAIGE M PORRETT
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $384,036
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-04-16 → 2029-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10824858

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10824858, Project 2: Genesis and dynamics of human endometrial resident memory T cells revealed by uterus transplant recipients (1U19AI181105-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10824858. Licensed CC0.

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