In a groundbreaking project funded by the La Caixa Foundation, AccelBio and Marc Veldhoen’s team, from GiMM, have joined forces to explore a novel strategy for selectively modulating T cell responses. Infectious and inflammatory diseases, whose global prevalence is on the rise, remain among the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Many of these conditions are linked to the activity of T cells, a type of white blood cell critical for coordinating immune responses against pathogens. However, T cells can sometimes become overactive, leading to severe conditions such as fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma.

Current treatments often rely on broad-spectrum immunosuppressive drugs, which, while effective, come with significant side effects and an increased risk of infections. This highlights the urgent need for therapies that can selectively inhibit T cell activity without compromising the overall immune response.

Marc Veldhoen’s team has identified a key factor in T cell activation, which the research will investigate as a new therapeutic target. In collaboration with Silvia Almeida and Vânia Cardoso from CoLAB AccelBio, experts in drug discovery, the team will work to identify drug candidates that modulate T cell response while preserving the immune system’s protective functions. This project aims to develop tools to reduce the side effects commonly associated with current treatments for infectious and inflammatory diseases, potentially leading to safer and more effective therapies.

This innovative approach holds promise for advancing targeted therapies that improve patient outcomes in managing complex immune-related conditions.