Understanding T Cells in Vitiligo
Official title: Autoreactive T Cell Function in Vitiligo
Funded at Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · NIH-11159470 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how certain immune cells, called T cells, cause the skin condition vitiligo, which leads to white spots on the skin.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | September 12, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $397,485 |
| NIH project number | 5P50AR080593-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11159470 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is relevant for individuals living with vitiligo or other autoimmune conditions, as it seeks to uncover the basic mechanisms of these diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not affected by vitiligo or other autoimmune diseases would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Vitiligo is an autoimmune skin condition where specific immune cells, known as cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, mistakenly attack and destroy pigment-making cells in the skin. This project aims to understand the detailed ways these T cells behave, including how they find their targets and activate other immune cells. By studying vitiligo, which is easier to observe and sample in human patients, we hope to gain a comprehensive understanding of how organ-specific autoimmune diseases develop. This knowledge could also shed light on other autoimmune conditions like type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a deeper understanding of vitiligo and other autoimmune diseases, potentially paving the way for new and more effective treatments.
How similar studies have gone: While previous work has characterized autoreactive T cell responses, this project aims to provide a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of their behavior within human tissue.
Where this research is happening
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Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kent, Sally Choate — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Kent, Sally Choate
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Cell communications and tissue memory in vitiligo
This grant looks at how skin cells talk to each other and how these conversations may drive vitiligo, with the goal of finding new ways to treat or manage the condition.
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Autoreactive T Cell Function in Vitiligo
A study in people with vitiligo and related models aims to understand how skin-homing T cells drive pigment loss and how this knowledge could lead to better treatments.
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Understanding why the immune system targets skin in vitiligo and how this causes lasting damage
A research program is studying how immune cells attack pigment cells in the skin of people with vitiligo and what drives this autoimmune process.
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Understanding why some vitiligo patches repigment while others stay white
This grant studies why certain vitiligo patches repigment in some areas after treatment and why others persist, aiming to make treatments faster and more even.
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Understanding Cell Communication and Tissue Memory in Vitiligo
This project aims to understand how skin cells communicate and remember past events in people with vitiligo, hoping to find new ways to treat the condition.
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Understanding Autoimmunity in Vitiligo
This project aims to understand how the immune system attacks skin cells in people with vitiligo, causing white patches.
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.