Understanding why the immune system targets skin in vitiligo and how this causes lasting damage
Official title: Dissecting Functional Autoimmunity through High-Resolution Multiomics in a Vitiligo Center of Research Translation (V-CoRT)
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11375155 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research program is studying how immune cells attack pigment cells in the skin of people with vitiligo and what drives this autoimmune process.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 12, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,368,931 |
| NIH project number | 7P50AR080593-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11375155 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with vitiligo who have accessible affected skin samples or are willing to contribute biopsy material for research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without vitiligo or those not eligible to provide tissue samples may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project uses patient skin samples from vitiligo to map the detailed cellular interactions and molecular pathways that lead to pigment cell destruction. By integrating high-resolution multiomics data, researchers aim to build a comprehensive picture of how autoreactive T cells communicate with neighboring cells and create lasting autoimmunity in skin tissue. The goal is to connect what happens at the cellular level to the visible skin changes patients experience, with translational tools to move findings toward real-world applications. The approach is designed to leverage existing patient material and translational assays to uncover actionable targets for therapy or prevention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new targets to prevent or treat skin destruction in vitiligo and improve quality of life for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies using multiomics in autoimmune skin disease have shown promising links between cellular networks and disease progression, supporting further exploration in vitiligo.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harris, John E — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Harris, John E
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 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 T Cells in Vitiligo
This research explores how certain immune cells, called T cells, cause the skin condition vitiligo, which leads to white spots on the skin.
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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.