How tissue-resident macrophages form in mice and people

Development of the resident macrophage lineage in mouse and human

['FUNDING_R01'] · SLOAN-KETTERING INST CAN RESEARCH · NIH-11248765

This project seeks to understand how tissue-resident macrophages develop in mice and humans to help guide future treatments for inflammation, degeneration, and cancer.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorSLOAN-KETTERING INST CAN RESEARCH (nih funded)
Locations1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11248765 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

Researchers will use genetically engineered mouse and zebrafish models alongside analysis of human tissues and cells to trace the developmental origins and specialization of resident macrophages. They will apply lineage-tracing tools, molecular profiling, and comparative experiments across species to identify key genes and progenitor cells. The team will build on prior models to map how early blood-forming progenitors give rise to tissue macrophages and how those paths differ between species. Results will be used to generate new tools and concepts that could clarify macrophage roles in development, inflammation, degeneration, and tumor biology.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants would be people with conditions linked to tissue macrophage function (for example inflammatory, degenerative, or cancer-related conditions) or healthy volunteers willing to donate blood or tissue samples for comparison.

Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to tissue macrophage biology or those unable or unwilling to provide tissue or blood samples are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal targets and strategies for therapies that modify or replace tissue macrophages in inflammatory diseases, degenerative disorders, and cancer.

How similar studies have performed: Previous animal and laboratory studies have identified important macrophage functions and generated genetic models, but translating developmental findings from animals to humans remains largely untested.

Where this research is happening

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.