Understanding Autoimmunity in Vitiligo
Dissecting Functional Autoimmunity through High-Resolution Multiomics in a Vitiligo Center of Research Translation (V-CoRT)
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER · NIH-11159454
This project aims to understand how the immune system attacks skin cells in people with vitiligo, causing white patches.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (WORCESTER, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11159454 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Vitiligo is a skin condition where the immune system mistakenly destroys cells that make pigment, leading to white spots. This project uses vitiligo as a model to deeply understand how autoimmune diseases develop in human tissues. Researchers are looking closely at skin samples from vitiligo patients to see how immune cells move, talk to other cells, and destroy pigment cells. The goal is to map out the complex network of cells that drive the disease, which could help us understand other autoimmune conditions too.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with vitiligo, particularly those who have provided or may be willing to provide skin samples, are central to this research.
Not a fit: Patients without vitiligo or other autoimmune conditions would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments for vitiligo and other autoimmune diseases by revealing the exact steps of immune attack.
How similar studies have performed: Vitiligo shares genetic and mechanistic links with other autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis, suggesting that insights gained here could be broadly applicable.
Where this research is happening
WORCESTER, UNITED STATES
- UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER — WORCESTER, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HARRIS, JOHN E — UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER
- Study coordinator: HARRIS, JOHN E
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.
Conditions: Autoimmune Diseases