T cells are essential to the immune system, but how do they distinguish between the body's own tissues and harmful invaders? Harvard MD/PhD candidate Dan Michelson's research reveals how the thymus, a small gland located in the chest, creates miniature versions of organs for T cells to "preview" so that they know friend from foe. Michelson’s findings deepen our understanding of autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis with implications for therapies that strengthen the immune system and treat cancer.
This research was funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
