CTCF's role in keeping CD8 T cells healthy and ready to fight infections and cancer
Official title: CTCF in CD8 T cell homeostasis and anti-viral/tumor immunity
Funded at Hackensack University Medical Center · NIH-11378381 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study exploring how a key protein (CTCF) helps maintain CD8+ T cells and their ability to fight viruses and tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hackensack University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hackensack, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2016 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $523,039 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI121080-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378381 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with viral infections or cancers who may benefit from improved T cell–based therapies in the future.
✕Less likely to help
This research is early-stage and may not directly benefit individual patients during the project.
What this research studies
This research looks at how CD8+ T cells stay balanced and ready to respond by studying the 3D genome organization and regulatory factors. It uses laboratory models to examine how CTCF, Tcf1/Lef1, and other signals influence T cell homeostasis and differentiation into effector and memory cells. The findings could inform strategies for vaccines and immunotherapies that enhance antiviral and anti-tumor responses in people. The project involves detailed molecular analyses, potentially translating into improved cellular therapies in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better design of vaccines and adoptive cell therapies that boost the immune system against infections and cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that chromatin architecture influences T cell function, but the exact role of 3D genome organization in T cell homeostasis is still being defined.
Where this research is happening
-
Hackensack University Medical Center
Hackensack, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xue, Hai-Hui — Hackensack University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Xue, Hai-Hui
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.