History of the NIH Cooperative Centers on Human Immunology

The CCHI program has supported many leading advances in immunology that impact our fundamental understanding of the human immune system. For example, recent studies have provided evidence that immune variability can be explained by non-heritable influences; multi-cohort analyses have identified common host signatures that can distinguish individuals with viral infections from bacterial infections or healthy controls; the gut microbiota has been shown to play a key role in antibody responses to vaccination; and Fc glycan modification of antibodies have been implicated in the regulation of the humoral immune responses in viral infections. Technological advances developed through CCHI support include: the application and further development of CyTOF to immunological research; development of Multiplexed Ion Beam Imaging (MIBI); Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin with high throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq); and methodologies enabling integration of information about T cell receptor (TCR) specificity with information about T cell function. In addition, CCHI has supported training in sophisticated technologies for researchers across the country.

The CCHI program was initiated in 2003 to foster research in human immunology. The original program goals were defined following recommendations from several expert panels convened to identify research needs in the area of biodefense. The current CCHI program supports the translation of immunology research into clinical applications in humans, primarily in the area of infectious diseases. 

The first funding announcements, RFA-AI-02-042 and RFA-AI-03-015, Cooperative Centers for Translational Research on Human Immunology and Biodefense, resulted in funding of 8 CCTRHIB sites:

  • Baylor Research Institute: Human Dendritic Cells and In Vivo Immunity to Biothreat
  • BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Inc.: Robust T-cell Immunity to Influenza in Human Populations
  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: Orthopox immunization in patients with cancer or eczema
  • Emory University: Vaccine Induced Immunity in the Young and Aged
  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai: Center for Investigating Viral Immunity and Antagonism
  • Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation: Molecular and Immunologic Analysis of the Pathobiology of Anthrax
  • Stanford University: Protective Mechanisms Against Pandemic Respiratory Virus
  • University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester:  Cellular Immunity to Category A-C Viruses in Humans

The second RFA release, RFA-AI-08-014, Cooperative Centers for Translational Research on Human Immunology and Biodefense, resulted in 9 awards:

  • Baylor Research Institute: Harnessing Human DC Subsets for Improved Muscosal Vaccines
  • Emory University: Vaccine Induced Immunity in the Young and Aged
  • Massachusetts General Hospital: Mechanisms of Immune Failure in Chronic Infection: Hepatitis C as a Key Paradigm
  • Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation: Molecular and Immunologic Analysis of the Pathobiology of Anthrax
  • Stanford University: Influenza Immunity:  Protective Mechanisms Against Pandemic Respiratory Virus
  • University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester: Cellular Immunity to Category A-C Viruses in Humans
  • University of Maryland, Baltimore: Mucosal Immunity; Vaccines and Microbiota Interplay in Humans and Animal
  • University of Rhode Island: Translational Immunology Research and Accelerated [vaccine] Development (TRIAD)
  • University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh: Center for Immunology of Emerging Infectious Diseases

RFA-AI-13-016 was the first release of the Cooperative Centers on Human Immunology, now known as the CCHI centers.  Awards were made to 6 sites: Emory University, Massachusetts General Hospital, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Rockefeller University, Stanford University, and University of Maryland, Baltimore.

  • Emory University: Vaccine Induced Immunity in the Young and Aged
  • Massachusetts General Hospital: Reversal of Immune Failure With Viral Cure in Chronic HCV Infection
  • Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation: Molecular and Immunologic Analysis of the Pathobiology of Anthrax
  • Rockefeller University: Integrating Innate and Adaptive Pathways in Vaccine Responses
  • Stanford University: Adaptive and Innate Immunity, Memory and Repertoire in Vaccination and Infection
  • University of Maryland, Baltimore: Mucosal and Systemic Immunity, Vaccines and Microbiota Interplay in Humans

RFA-AI-17-022 was the second RFA release for specific funding of the Cooperative Centers on Human Immunology, now known as the CCHI centers.  Eight CCHI centers were announced for funding: Emory University, The Jackson Laboratory, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital/University of Pennsylvania, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Rockefeller University, Stanford University, and University of Alabama at Birmingham.

  • Emory University: Vaccine Induced Immunity in the Young and Aged
  • The Jackson Laboratory: Modulation of Lung Immunes Responses to Viral Infection
  • La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology: Functional & Dysfunctional Human CD4 T Cell & B Cell Responses to Bacteria and Viruses
  • Massachusetts General Hospital/University of Pennsylvania: Impact of Immunotherapy on Viral Immunity in Humans
  • Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation: Molecular and Immunologic Analysis of the Pathobiology of Human Anthrax
  • Rockefeller University: Integrating Innate and Adaptive Pathways in Vaccine Responses
  • Stanford University:  Influenza Responses and Repertoire in Vaccination, Infection and Tonsil Organoids
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham: Tissue and Organ Specific Human B Cell Immunity

RFA-AI-22-069 represents the call for applications for the 5th cycle of funding for the Cooperative Centers on Human Immunology (CCHI) to provide foundational information on human immune system function to support translation of immunology research into clinical benefits. Nine centers were awarded, including two of the original centers (Emory University and Stanford University):  

  • Emory University: Vaccine and Infection Induced Immunity in the Young and Aged
  • The Jackson Laboratory/Mount Sinai: Modulation of Lung Immune Responses to Viral Infection
  • La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology: Human Immune Memory to COVID-19, Vaccines and Respiratory Pathogens
  • Massachusetts General Hospital/University of Pennsylvania: Durable Alteration of the Human Immune System after Infection or Immunotherapy
  • Northwestern University at Chicago: : The Neu-Lung Consortium: Neutrophilic Mechanisms of Inflammation, Injury, and Repair in Lung and Airways
  • Stanford University:  Understanding Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 vaccine responses, in vivo and in vitro
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham: Evolution and Durability of Human T and B Cell Responses
  • University of Maryland, Baltimore: Mechanisms of Mucosal and Systemic Immunity to Vaccination and Infection with Enteric Pathogens in Children and Adults
  • Washington University in St. Louis: Mechanisms of Immune Protection Against Respiratory Viruses