How lymph-node immune signals change at infection or tumor sites
Remodeling of Lymph Node-Derived Cytokine Responses at the Infected Tissue Site
This project looks at how immune cells use chemical signals to find and act inside infected tissues or tumors, aiming to improve immune-based treatments for infections and cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cornell University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ithaca, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11087516 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers trace how T cells move from lymph nodes into inflamed or cancerous tissue and how their signaling changes over time. They use a molecular "timestamping" technique plus single-cell gene profiling to see which chemokine receptors cells express at different times after entering tissue. The team compares infected and malignant tissues to understand why therapeutic cells like CAR T cells often fail to enter or persist in tumors. Findings will be used to suggest ways to guide or retain therapeutic immune cells where they are needed most.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with infections or solid tumors who can provide tissue or blood samples or who might later be eligible for cell-based immunotherapy trials would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients without infectious or cancerous tissue involvement or those needing immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct, near-term benefit from this laboratory-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help design therapies that recruit and retain immune cells (including CAR T cells) in tumors or sites of infection more effectively.
How similar studies have performed: Single-cell studies have already revealed immune cell diversity and some chemokine-targeting strategies have shown promise, but the optogenetic timestamping approach is relatively new and its clinical impact is not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
Ithaca, United States
- Cornell University — Ithaca, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fowell, Deborah J — Cornell University
- Study coordinator: Fowell, Deborah J
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 below.