Keeping tissue-resident immune cells working in skin and lymph nodes
Sustaining Tissue Resident Memory T cells
Researchers are finding ways to keep special immune cells called tissue-resident memory T cells active so they can help protect people from melanoma and related skin changes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hanover, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251260 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work follows immune cells that live in skin and nearby tumor-draining lymph nodes and examines how they persist after anti-cancer immune responses. Scientists use a mouse model that mimics the vitiligo seen in some melanoma patients after immunotherapy and also analyze tissue samples from people with melanoma. They focus on how these resident T cells cluster with CD11c-expressing myeloid cells to form small immune neighborhoods in tissue. The goal is to pinpoint the signals that keep these protective T cells in place so future therapies could boost long-term cancer protection.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People treated for melanoma—particularly those who developed vitiligo after immunotherapy—may be eligible to provide tissue samples or join related clinical research at participating centers.
Not a fit: Patients without melanoma or those not undergoing cancer immunotherapy are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic/translational research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help maintain protective immune cells and reduce melanoma recurrence, improving long-term remission.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies, including work by these investigators, showed tissue-resident memory T cells can control melanoma, but strategies to sustain them for long-term protection remain largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Hanover, United States
- Dartmouth College — Hanover, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Yina Hsing — Dartmouth College
- Study coordinator: Huang, Yina Hsing
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.