Assistant Professor Benjamin Morehouse of the Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences has received a prestigious grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The five-year award, through the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, will provide $1.25 million in direct funding and approximately $650,000 in indirect costs, solidifying the lab’s role in advancing our understanding of human immunity.
Professor Morehouse’s research focuses on the innate immune system — the body’s first line of defense against infections. His work aims to uncover how this crucial system operates across diverse organisms and how it has evolved over time. By studying connections between human immunity and ancient microbial defense mechanisms, the lab hopes to provide new insights into how immune responses are organized and regulated.
One key area of investigation is the cGAS-STING pathway, which helps detect infections and abnormal cell growth in humans. Similar defense systems exist in bacteria, and Professor Morehouse’s team is examining these evolutionary links to identify common strategies that immune systems use to protect against pathogens. Understanding these mechanisms could lead to new approaches for developing treatments for drug-resistant infections, cancer and immune-related diseases.
The research will also explore how specific chemical signals guide immune responses and how variations in these signals affect the outcome of infections. These insights could pave the way for innovative therapies that enhance the immune system’s ability to detect and eliminate harmful threats, potentially improving treatments for some of the most challenging health conditions.
This funding highlights the importance of cutting-edge research at the Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences, particularly in a time when public health is increasingly threatened by antibiotic resistance and emerging diseases. The Morehouse Lab’s work holds the potential to drive medical breakthroughs that could save lives and improve healthcare outcomes.
Congratulations to Professor Morehouse and his team on securing this significant NIH grant. Their work exemplifies UC Irvine’s commitment to advancing life science research and addressing critical global health challenges.