Birmingham to Pioneer Immune Regulation Therapies in Multi-Organ Autoimmunity

UK–Japan Collaboration Launches Landmark Autoimmune Research Programme

It is witnessed that autoimmune diseases plague almost one person in ten on this planet today. Several conditions have increased chronic inflammation and long-term organ damage: rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, type 1 diabetes, and autoimmune liver disease. Immune regulation is now the key focus for researchers; most of it has been based on a role for Foxp3+ regulatory T-cells in the maintenance of immune tolerance and tissue injury prevention. Scientists are using advanced techniques such as single-cell and spatial multiomics to study the interactions of immune cells and tissues during inflammatory conditions.

The University of Birmingham will lead an international project on a large scale to remedy the transformation of treatments for autoimmune diseases with cause-based approaches to chronic inflammation. It has received £3.83 million of Wellcome Discovery Award funding for the eight-year initiative, bringing the medicine researchers at Birmingham together with Nobel Prize winners like Professor Shimon Sakaguchi from Osaka University and Professor Calliope Dendrou from the University of Oxford.

Led by Professor Ye Htun Oo, a specialist in autoimmune liver disease, the project will explore how naturally occurring Foxp3+ Regulatory T-cells, known for maintaining immune tolerance, can be harnessed as “nature’s medicine” to treat autoimmune conditions affecting the liver, gut, skin, and other organs. As one of Europe’s largest liver transplant centres, Birmingham hopes this research will reduce transplant dependency and advance understanding of immune regulation through strategic UK–Japan collaboration.

This eight-year programme will bring together the best scientists and clinician-scientists in Japan and the UK. They aim to explore how the regulatory mechanisms of the immune system, particularly via the liver, can be manipulated and controlled. Specifically, the programme will focus on the actions of Foxp3+ Regulatory T-cells, which maintain immune tolerance and prevent tissue damage due to autoimmune responses.

The project is to be led by Professor Ye Htun Oo at the University of Birmingham, an expert in autoimmune liver diseases. He reportedly had more than 12 years of close partnership with Professor Sakaguchi. This collaboration is expected to build on Sakaguchi's outstanding exploration concerning Regulatory T-cells three decades ago that opened up new avenues in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and some cancers. Professor Sakaguchi was one of the three Nobel Prize winners in Physiology or Medicine in 2025, along with US scientists Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell. Their studies on immune regulation are well-known to have established excellent grounds for reconstituting therapies for chronic inflammatory conditions. Under such a partnership with Nobel laureates in medical research, the University of Birmingham displays its old practice long committed to global health through scientific collaborations.

Professor Oo said Birmingham is one of the largest liver transplant units in Europe and hopes this new strategy might potentially cut down on the demand for transplants in those with autoimmune liver diseases. He termed the award a rich chance to further advance understanding of Regulatory T-cell biology and progress towards useful therapies for multi-organ autoimmunity. The research team also consists of Professor Graham Anderson at Bham University, who is the world-leading specialist in thymic T-cell development, and Professor Dendrou, who is renowned for her expertise in immune disease single-cell and spatial multiomics. Together, they seek to show how immune cells talk to tissue in chronic inflammation and how such naturally occurring Regulatory T-cells may be utilised as "nature's medicine" to cure liver disease and other autoimmune diseases of the gut, skin, and organs.

This endeavour further solidifies the University of Birmingham's medical research alliances and brings into focus its position as one of the leading UK universities in medical and autoimmune research. The university's global presence is also evident through its international campuses, including the University of Birmingham Dubai campus. It was a newsworthy event which was cheered throughout the industry, as an event of great significance in university news, signifying that UK universities are still leading the charge in innovative treatments for autoimmune diseases. Another world-leading example is the University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK, which continues to push boundaries in medical innovation and translational research, leveraging world-leading expertise and partnerships.

The leadership of the University of Birmingham in this ambitious global program represents a turning point in the way we tackle autoimmune disease, not merely in theory, but in reality. Supported by the Wellcome Discovery Award and bolstered by Nobel-winning partners, this program is more than a research grant. It's an investment in the future of medicine. What makes this announcement so interesting is its emphasis on the liver, an intricate, neglected organ when it comes to autoimmune research. By attacking chronic inflammation at its source and investigating the role of Foxp3+ Regulatory T-cells, the team isn't pursuing symptoms but the cause. That changed mindset is well past due.

Professor Ye Htun Oo’s leadership, alongside Professor Sakaguchi’s foundational work, brings depth and continuity to the project. Their 12-year collaboration adds credibility and cohesion, while the inclusion of experts like Professor Dendrou and Professor Anderson ensures that the science remains cutting-edge and multi-dimensional. This is not about cutting back on liver transplants. It's about recasting the way we manage multi-organ autoimmunity, gut, skin, liver, and so forth, via the body's own regulatory mechanisms. The concept of "nature's medicine" is not lyrical; it's pragmatic, and it's potent. For the University of Birmingham, this is a milestone moment. It underlines the institution's position as a world leader in translational research and medical innovation. More significantly, it demonstrates what can be achieved when universities make long-term, cross-border collaborations based on scientific excellence and clinical applicability.

Editor’s Note:

This University of Birmingham announcement is not another research newsflash; it's a warning that the treatment and understanding of autoimmune diseases are set to shift. With close to a tenth of the world's population affected, and chronic inflammation at the root of so many conditions, the call for intelligent, cause-level solutions is acute. This programme doesn't accept treating symptoms. It asks instead how the immune system might be directed, rather than damped down, to cure itself. The area of focus on Foxp3+ Regulatory T-cells is particularly exciting. They are nature's peacekeepers, keeping the immune system from attacking good tissue. By learning what they do in the liver, a difficult and not well-understood organ, this team is opening the door to therapies that will not only help liver patients, but also those with autoimmune diseases of the gut, skin, and other organs. What's impressive is the depth of the collaboration. Leadership by Professor Ye Htun Oo, with the support of Nobel Prize-winning scientists such as Professor Sakaguchi and Professor Dendrou, lends this project credibility and impetus. Each has expertise in immune regulation, multiomics, and clinical application, which makes this more than an intellectual exercise; it's an applied thrust towards making a difference in the real world. Birmingham, a leading liver transplant centre in Europe, aims to reduce the need for transplants by tackling the root causes of liver disease, rather than just treating the symptoms. This ambitious goal aligns with the university's commitment to global health, scientific excellence, and fruitful collaborations.

Skoobuzz underscores that in a time of increasing chronic illness and strained healthcare systems, this initiative offers valuable hope rooted in scientific advancement. It underscores the idea that with the right expertise, resources, and strategic focus, we can redefine what is achievable.

FAQs

1. How is the University of Birmingham involved in autoimmune disease research?

The University of Birmingham is leading a major international research programme focused on transforming autoimmune disease treatment by targeting chronic inflammation at its source. The initiative centres on the role of Foxp3+ Regulatory T-cells, which help maintain immune tolerance and prevent tissue damage. Birmingham researchers are exploring how these cells can be harnessed to treat multi-organ autoimmune conditions, including those affecting the liver, gut, and skin. As one of Europe’s largest liver transplant centres, the university is also investigating ways to reduce transplant dependency through immune regulation.

2. Which Nobel Prize winner is partnering with the University of Birmingham?

Professor Shimon Sakaguchi of Osaka University, a 2025 Nobel Prize laureate in Physiology or Medicine, is partnering with the University of Birmingham. He is internationally recognised for discovering Regulatory T-cells, a breakthrough that has reshaped the understanding of immune tolerance. His long-standing collaboration with Professor Ye Htun Oo at Birmingham spans over 12 years and forms the scientific backbone of this new research programme.

3. What breakthroughs are being made in autoimmune disease treatment?

Recent breakthroughs include the use of naturally occurring Foxp3+ Regulatory T-cells as “nature’s medicine” to control autoimmune responses without suppressing the entire immune system. Researchers are applying single-cell and spatial multiomics to map how immune cells interact with tissues during chronic inflammation. These advances offer promising paths toward personalised therapies that restore immune balance and reduce organ damage—potentially eliminating the need for invasive treatments like transplants.

4. How does major funding support medical research in UK universities?

Major funding, such as the £3.83 million Wellcome Discovery Award granted to the University of Birmingham, enables long-term, high-impact research by supporting interdisciplinary teams, advanced technologies, and international collaboration. It allows universities to attract top scientists, invest in translational research, and pursue complex studies that require sustained effort—ultimately accelerating the development of new therapies and improving patient outcomes.

5. What role do Nobel laureates play in advancing global health research?

Nobel laureates bring deep expertise, global recognition, and scientific leadership to collaborative research. Their foundational discoveries often serve as the basis for new therapeutic approaches. In this case, Professor Sakaguchi’s work on Regulatory T-cells is central to the Birmingham-led programme, helping bridge basic science with clinical application. Their involvement also strengthens international partnerships and raises the profile of research initiatives, encouraging further investment and innovation in global health.