USA Medical Scientist Awarded National Grant

The University of South Alabama (USA) has announced that its scientist Dr. Michael R. Elliott recently received a two-year R21 grant for $431,147 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Elliott’s goal is to provide new insights aimed at helping patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases avoid and better treat first infusion reactions. “Antibody-based therapies are among the most powerful tools for treating cancer and autoimmune diseases,” he said. “Yet for some patients, the very first infusion of these therapies can trigger inflammatory reactions ranging from mild discomfort to severe complications.” Elliott is an associate professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at USA’s Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine. His research aims to uncover the biological triggers of inflammatory reactions, with a particular focus on the immune cells that drive them. He hopes that, by identifying the underlying mechanisms, these therapies will be made safer and more widely accessible to patients.