The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has awarded a five-year, $10 million renewal of a program project to study the oldest part of the human immune system called the complement system, or simply “complement," a network of more than 50 proteins in the blood and on cell surfaces that is part of the innate immune system, in contrast to the adaptive system. John Lambris, PhD, the Ralph and Sallie Weaver Professor of Research Medicine, is the lead investigator on the renewed program project. The purpose of the study is to comprehensively elucidate the role of the complement system in inflammatory diseases and provide options for their therapeutic management. The generation and use of validated and pathway-specific inhibitors, highly relevant disease models, and sensitive analytical assays will ensure high translational value to the benefit of patients suffering from inflammatory and immune diseases.
Read more in the Penn Almanac.