Autoreactive T Cell Function in Vitiligo
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11375161 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in people with vitiligo and related models aims to understand how skin-homing T cells drive pigment loss and how this knowledge could lead to better treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 12, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $421,257 |
| NIH project number | 7P50AR080593-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11375161 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with vitiligo or autoimmune skin disease likely to contribute tissue samples or participate in related studies.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without vitiligo or related autoimmune skin conditions may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
Vitiligo is an autoimmune skin condition where CD8+ T cells attack pigment-producing cells, causing white patches and health disparities. This project uses human tissue and animal models to map how autoreactive T cells behave in the skin, including how they recognize targets and orchestrate immune responses. The research connects molecular pathways with observable skin changes, aiming to translate findings into approaches that could prevent or reverse pigment loss. By studying organ-specific autoimmunity in vitiligo, the team hopes to uncover mechanisms relevant to other autoimmune diseases as well.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could inform new therapies that stop T cell–driven pigment loss and reduce health disparities for patients with vitiligo.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research in vitiligo and organ-specific autoimmunity has shown meaningful insights, though the exact mechanisms remain complex and ongoing.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kent, Sally Choate — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Kent, Sally Choate
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Cell communications and tissue memory in vitiligo
This grant looks at how skin cells talk to each other and how these conversations may drive vitiligo, with the goal of finding new ways to treat or manage the condition.
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Understanding why the immune system targets skin in vitiligo and how this causes lasting damage
A research program is studying how immune cells attack pigment cells in the skin of people with vitiligo and what drives this autoimmune process.
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Understanding why some vitiligo patches repigment while others stay white
This grant studies why certain vitiligo patches repigment in some areas after treatment and why others persist, aiming to make treatments faster and more even.
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Understanding Cell Communication and Tissue Memory in Vitiligo
This project aims to understand how skin cells communicate and remember past events in people with vitiligo, hoping to find new ways to treat the condition.
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Understanding T Cells in Vitiligo
This research explores how certain immune cells, called T cells, cause the skin condition vitiligo, which leads to white spots on the skin.
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Understanding Autoimmunity in Vitiligo
This project aims to understand how the immune system attacks skin cells in people with vitiligo, causing white patches.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.