Deciphering the coronin 1 pathway for selective inhibition of inflammatory skin diseases
Grantee: Jean Pieters, Principle Investigator, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Switzerland
Amount: DKK 3,989,627
Grant category: Research Grants in open competition
Year: 2025
Geography: Switzerland
Inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis are debilitating and chronic conditions characterised by the appearance of rashes and scaly plaques. The symptoms are caused by overactivation of the immune system in which T cells play a key role. Current treatments are known to suppress the entire immune system or target pathways required for appropriate immunity and therefore are associated with significant risks for infections and cancer. Jean Pieters and his laboratory has recently defined a pathway that is selectively involved in T cell-mediated inflammatory skin disorders while being dispensable for normal immunity. Within this project Jean Pieters and his team aims to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved, and explore the potential of targeting this pathway as a therapeutic strategy for the suppression of skin inflammation while maintaining overall immunity. The results from this work may allow the delineation of hitherto unexplored and steroid-sparing therapies for inflammatory skin disorders.