Ryan M. Pearson PhD

Asthma is a chronic lung disease driven by an overactive immune system. It leads to airway inflammation, mucus production and difficulty breathing. Current treatments often suppress the immune system broadly, increasing the risk of infections. Our research focuses on a novel approach using tiny biodegradable particles called nanoparticles (NPs) to target and reprogram immune cell metabolism. These NPs are engineered to carry allergens, helping the body build tolerance by reducing harmful immune responses without weakening the entire immune system. By leveraging the body’s natural metabolic processes, our strategy aims to restore balance in the lungs to prevent and treat asthma more safely and effectively. This innovative approach could pave the way for personalized therapies that boost tolerance for many allergens and reduce allergic responses. This would improve the quality of life for millions of people with asthma and related lung diseases.

The Charles and Amelia Gould Innovation Award 

Update: Our research team has developed a novel class of polymeric nanoparticles, termed IMPRINT-NPs. They are designed to treat allergic airway disease by reprogramming immune responses rather than broadly suppressing inflammation. We have demonstrated that IMPRINT-NPs adjust antigen-presenting cell activation, reduce inflammatory signaling and promote the generation of regulatory T cells associated with immune tolerance.  In preclinical models of allergic airway disease, these nanoparticles selectively interacted with immunoregulatory myeloid cell populations in the lung without exacerbating eosinophilic inflammation. In ongoing studies, our team is evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of antigen-loaded IMPRINT-NPs on airway inflammation and lung function with the goal of developing more targeted therapies for asthma and related inflammatory lung diseases.