Projects
The Colton Consortium's research portfolio unites investigators from leading institutions in integrated studies that span basic, translational, and clinical research across diverse autoimmune conditions—designed to deepen understanding and accelerate progress toward new therapies.
A diverse research portfolio with a singular focus on autoimmunity
Across the Colton Centers for Autoimmunity, investigators pursue projects unified by a shared commitment to understanding and addressing autoimmune disease. While each project or Center of Excellence addresses distinct scientific questions, together they multiply insight through continuous exchange of discoveries, data, and expertise across institutional boundaries.
- Singular focus on autoimmune disease
- Diverse scientific approaches across basic, translational, and clinical research
- Discoveries that deepen understanding and guide the path toward new therapies
Across the Consortium
High-Throughput Center for AutoImmune Therapeutic Discovery (HIT-AI)
Systematically identifying and validating repurposed FDA-approved drugs for over 160 autoimmune diseases using AI, knowledge graphs, and high-throughput experimental screening.
Understanding the Therapeutic Potential of a Novel IgE Receptor
Characterizing a newly discovered IgE receptor to develop it into a drug that clears circulating IgE and treats allergic diseases.
Targeting Allograft Inflammation with CAR Tregs in Transplantation
Engineering HLA-DQ–specific CAR Tregs to selectively suppress anti-donor immune responses at sites of graft inflammation, this project seeks a more precise, durable alternative to broad immunosuppression in transplantation.
Immunotherapy-Related Adverse Effects as Models for Fragile Tolerance in Humans
Using cancer patients experiencing immunotherapy-triggered autoimmunity as a unique human model, this project uncovers the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms by which self-reactive T cells escape immune tolerance.
Explore our research portfolio
The Colton Consortium's research portfolio spans fundamental discovery, computational approaches, and clinical translation across four institutions. Filter by institution, research approach, disease area, project status, or funding year to find projects advancing autoimmune science.
Discoveries in motion
Featured breakthroughs and scientific advances from projects across the Colton Centers demonstrate the power of coordinated research.
What a "Silenced" Chromosome Can Tell Us About Autoimmunity
Penn Colton Center researcher Montserrat Anguera reveals how B cells maintain X chromosome inactivation, and how its breakdown drives lupus, offering new insight into female-biased autoimmune disease and treatment targets.
Yale Researchers Use Machine Learning Tool to Improve Personalized Immunotherapy Design
A Colton-supported Yale study has produced ImmunoStruct, a machine learning model that improves personalized cancer vaccine design by incorporating the 3D structure of immune-activating peptides — now licensed to a Yale spinout.
Yale Study Discovers a Second Pathway for Gut Antibody Production — With Implications for Vaccine Design
A Colton-supported Yale study has uncovered a second pathway for gut IgA antibody production, revealing a built-in immune backup system with significant implications for mucosal vaccine design.