# Inflammatory subtypes and multi-omic determinants of early life infection risk

> **NIH NIH K01** · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · 2024 · $177,721

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Nicole Prince, PhD is a biochemist with expertise in applying molecular epidemiology analytic approaches to
understand complex diseases. Her overarching career goal is to become an independent researcher with a skill
set across multiple ‘omics to improve understanding of the biological determinants underlying respiratory
infection risk, one of the leading causes of mortality in children <5 years (YR) of age. The proposed research
plan leverages her background in biochemistry and analytical chemistry with new training in immunology,
respiratory medicine, and multi-omic methods, to enhance her ability to study the complex, heterogeneous
environment that underlies infection susceptibility during the first few years of life. Evidence suggests there are
genetic and epidemiological drivers of susceptibility across different subsets of children, but these cannot fully
explain the observed inter-individual variability in respiratory infection risk; and, the hypothesis of this proposal
is that subsets of children with distinct infection risk are best captured through the proteome, which
represents the composite inflammatory profile critical to infection response. This will be explored in a cohort of
children with existing proteomic and metabolomic data and extensive longitudinal follow-up through age 10 YR,
originally enrolled in the Vitamin D Antenatal Asthma Reduction Trial (VDAART). (Aim 1) Proteomic profiling
will be used as input to derive inflammatory subtypes (i.e.,“inflamma-types”) at age 1 YR using a discovery
and validation approach; then, a high risk inflamma-type for respiratory infections will be identified. (Aim 2)
Inflamma-types will be recapitulated at age 6 YR to investigate their stability across the spectrum of
respiratory maturation and immune development. Finally, (Aim 3) inflamma-types will be characterized
biochemically to identify key metabolites and key pathways through the metabolome and assess their
roles as mediators in subsequent disease development (i.e., asthma). This innovative research plan utilizes
novel methodologies and will represent the first study to derive proteomic-driven subtypes to understand
respiratory infection risk. An accompanying training plan is designed to provide Dr. Prince support in completing
these research aims successfully and facilitate her transition to independence. These findings will provide critical
preliminary data to submit subsequent R01 applications to externally validate inflamma-types and assess their
clinical utility. Dr. Prince has four career goals that build upon her existing reputation as a biochemist to (1)
gain foundational knowledge in immunology and respiratory medicine; (2) increase clinical
understanding of respiratory infections in early life; (3) strengthen her knowledge of multi-omics
interpretation; and (4) deepen her understanding of study design, mentoring, and research ethics. She
is supported by a mentoring team with diverse skill sets and successful me...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10947656
- **Project number:** 1K01HL175261-01
- **Recipient organization:** BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Nicole Prince
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $177,721
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-01 → 2029-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10947656

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10947656, Inflammatory subtypes and multi-omic determinants of early life infection risk (1K01HL175261-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10947656. Licensed CC0.

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