Research Projects

Cytotoxic T cells (CD8) play a pivotal role in combating viral infections and cancer. These cells undergo rapid expansion and acquire effector functions upon antigen recognition. Once an infection is cleared, the vast majority of these T cells die, leaving behind two distinct types of long-lived memory T cells: Tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) and circulating T cells (TCIRC). TRM cells, which permanently reside at common pathogen entry sites (e.g., skin and lung mucosa), provide faster and superior protection against pathogens or cancer due to their strategic location. On the other hand, TCIRC cells continually traffic through the blood and lymphatic system. Despite the critical role of these cells, our understanding of the factors that determine whether a T cell becomes a TRM or a TCIRC cell is limited. Our recent work has led to the identification of a set of pathways that appear to regulate this fate decision. In this project, we will employ a range of laboratory techniques and models, including transgenic mouse models, high dimensional flow cytometry, CRISPR-Cas9, and qPCR, to manipulate these factors and assess their impact on TRM and TCIRC fate. By uncovering the key drivers of cell fate, we aim to pave the way for the development of more effective vaccines and immunotherapies.

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