#13 The role of T cell responses in the persistence of systemic inflammation and treatment failure in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is driven by immune dysregulation and leakage of gut microbes into the body, causing both local and systemic inflammation. While anti-TNF therapy is widely used, many patients do not respond, and the role of systemic T cells in this remains unclear. This project asks: How do T cells contribute to IBD and treatment failure? We will analyze T cell function and inflammatory signals in patients, identify microbes that escape the gut, and map how T cells recognize these targets. Using single-cell and T cell receptor technologies, we will link specific T cells to microbial antigens and their location in the gut. This will help define mechanisms of disease and identify targets for improved, potentially tolerogenic therapies.