Cell communications and tissue memory in vitiligo
Official title: Cell-Cell Communications and Tissue Memory in Vitiligo
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11375165 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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) | $374,523 |
| NIH project number | 7P50AR080593-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11375165 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with vitiligo or those at risk of developing vitiligo who consent to skin sampling and genetic analysis.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without vitiligo or those unwilling to participate in skin sampling or genetic studies may not benefit.
What this research studies
The project studies how cells in the skin communicate through signals and direct contact, shaping tissue behavior and immune responses. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, researchers map the signaling networks in vitiligo-affected skin to understand why immune cells attack pigment cells. The work aims to link these signals to persistent changes in tissue memory that could drive disease progression. By focusing on accessible skin tissue, the study seeks translational insights that could inform better therapies for vitiligo patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to targeted therapies that interrupt harmful cell signals and slow or halt vitiligo progression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous cell signaling studies in autoimmune skin diseases have yielded actionable insights, though this exact approach in vitiligo is promising but still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cai, Long — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Cai, Long
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Autoreactive T Cell Function in Vitiligo
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.