How factors affect the health of skin memory T cells
Official title: Intrinsic and Extrinsic factors regulating competition for active TGFb promote skin memory CD8 T cell fitness
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-10995025 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain factors help memory T cells in the skin stay strong and ready to fight infections or skin cancers, which could lead to better treatments for autoimmune diseases and boost skin immunity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | July 20, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $550,909 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AR083713-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10995025 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with autoimmune diseases affecting the skin or those at risk for skin cancers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to skin immunity or those not affected by autoimmune diseases may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of intrinsic and extrinsic factors in regulating the competition for active TGFβ, which is crucial for the fitness of memory CD8 T cells in the skin. These T cells are important for providing rapid immune responses to infections and for surveillance against skin cancers. The study will explore how these cells persist in the skin and how their behavior changes upon re-encountering antigens. By understanding these mechanisms, the research aims to improve treatments for autoimmune diseases and enhance skin immunity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better strategies for enhancing immune responses in the skin, potentially improving treatments for autoimmune diseases and skin cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding memory T cells and their role in immune responses, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
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University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kaplan, Daniel H — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Kaplan, Daniel H
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.