image: University of South Alabama scientist Michael R. Elliott, Ph.D., works in his lab at the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute in Mobile, Alabama. He recently received a two-year R21 grant for $431,147 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Credit: University of South Alabama
MOBILE, Alabama (Oct. 21, 2025) -- With a goal of providing new insights aimed at helping patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases avoid and better treat first infusion reactions (FIR), University of South Alabama scientist Michael R. Elliott, Ph.D., recently received a two-year R21 grant for $431,147 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
“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 serves as 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. The idea is that by identifying the underlying mechanisms, he hopes to make these therapies not only safer but also more widely accessible to patients.
With some patients, the initial infusion of antibody-based therapies is frequently associated with the rapid onset of chills, fever, hypotension, shortness of breath, and rash. These first infusion reactions range in severity, with most patients recovering with clinical support within hours to, in rare cases, very severe responses that can result in hospitalization and death.
In this project, researchers will investigate the role of macrophages in producing inflammatory cytokines during FIR and determine the major signaling mechanisms responsible for the induction of these cytokines. Ultimately, this work will provide important new insights aimed at avoiding and treating FIR in the context of immunotherapy.
Elliott received his Ph.D. from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. His research focuses on innate immunity, macrophage biology, and cancer immunotherapy. His laboratory is located at the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute.
Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine
The Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama, the Flagship of the Gulf Coast, was established in 1973. The College of Medicine is a member of the Association of American Medical Colleges and offers two degree programs: the M.D. program and the Ph.D. program in Basic Medical Sciences. USA Health residency and fellowship programs are affiliated with the College and are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Construction is under way for a new medical school building that aims to bring together research and education to encourage collaboration. The 250,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to open in January 2027.
About the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute
The USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute stands as the leading academic cancer treatment and research facility along the upper Gulf Coast. Continuous research and technological advancements keep the MCI at the forefront of cancer treatment and outcomes. Providers and staff are dedicated to bringing the most advanced care to people in the region, including having available clinical trials that are the steppingstones to widespread treatment options.