Immune Tolerance Network

**About Us** The Immune Tolerance Network (ITN) is a collaborative network for clinical research, funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health. Our mission is to accelerate the clinical development of immune tolerance therapies. **ITN by the numbers** - 75 total clinical trials - 18 Allergy trials; 32 Autoimmunity trials; 25 Transplant trials - 250+ clinical sites and investigators at leading academic hospitals worldwide - 3500+ patients enrolled in ITN clinical trials - 708,805 clinical specimens in the ITN repository **Designing better studies through collaboration** The ITN facilitates collaborative studies between academic, governmental and industry researchers in order to develop and fund cutting edge immune tolerance research that could not otherwise be conducted. The ITN development model is a highly interactive process that capitalizes on our wide-ranging, multidisciplinary expertise, provided by an advisory board ([Network Steering Committee](https://www.immunetolerance.org/about-us/leadership)) of highly respected faculty from institutions world-wide. It begins with the [application process](https://www.immunetolerance.org/for-researchers/proposals) - from pre- and post-application support, to formal Q&A sessions with reviewers, we help investigators develop high quality research studies. **Designing better studies through collaboration** The ITN looks beyond the traditional clinical trial endpoints of safety and efficacy, actively investigating the mechanisms of tolerance induction and maintenance, developing clinical trials based upon mechanism-based hypotheses. In addition to clinical efficacy, ITN clinical trials validate tolerance mechanisms while also defining new biomarkers of tolerance in human disease. By taking this approach to our clinical trials and mechanistic research, we make sure that we learn something from every clinical trial to advance knowledge and get closer to cures –- no matter what the clinical outcome of the study. Supported by an unprecedented array of [core facilities](https://www.immunetolerance.org/for-researchers/core-facilities), offering state-of-the-art genetic, cellular and immunologic assays, the ITN is generating some of the first combined clinical and mechanistic data on immune tolerance induction in humans. **Mission & Values** The Immune Tolerance Network (ITN) is an organization born from the collective vision of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (of the National Institutes of Health) and the tolerance research community. As such, our vision and the principles upon which we were founded are a reflection of the community itself. Our Statement of Values and Commitments clearly defines these principles and provides a framework that guides us in our activities. This commitment ensures that we will continue as strong advocates for the community in an open and accessible manner. **Our Mission** To advance the clinical application of immune tolerance by performing high quality clinical trials of emerging therapeutics integrated with mechanism-based research. In particular, we aim to: - Establish new tolerance therapeutics - Develop a better understanding of the mechanisms of immune function and disease pathogenesis - Identify new biomarkers of tolerance and disease **Our Purpose** To understand and achieve immune tolerance to prevent and cure human disease. **Our Values** **Innovation:** We anticipate and respond to each challenge, research or otherwise, with creativity and passion, welcoming the challenge of attempting what has never been accomplished before. **Integrity:** We strive for fairness, truth and respect in all that we do and uphold high ethical standards in all human research. **Conviction:** We are firm in our belief that immune tolerance therapies can and will radically improve human health. **Collaboration:** We are built upon teamwork, establishing partnerships with academia, government and industry to meet our goals. We are committed to the scientific ideals of openness and the sharing of scientific information.