# Core C: Human Thymus Core

> **NIH NIH P01** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 2022 · $365,470

## Abstract

Abstract
 The Research Projects (RP) of this comprehensive discovery-based P01 seek to identify specific changes
in the transcriptional profiles and signaling pathways that control thymic epithelial cell (TEC), stromal cell, and
thymic hematopoietic antigen presenting cell (HAPC) compartment dynamics and lineage hierarchies during
the transition from perinatal thymus expansion to juvenile/adult homeostasis. Studies in the RPs will focus on
murine models, but the questions they seek to address require comparison of mouse and human thymus
biology across the perinatal to juvenile transition. However, human thymus tissue is not readily available at
most institutions and cross-species comparisons are not always straight-forward. In addition, the emphasis of
this P01 on deciphering heterogeneity in mostly non-overlapping cellular subsets of TECs (RP1, RP2), other
stromal cells, (RP2), and HAPCs (RP3) mean that data relevant to all three RPs can potentially be obtained
from each human tissue studied. Integration of this centralized Human Thymus Core into the P01 has resolved
these issues. Core C services will allow RP 1-3 to address the knowledge gaps regarding translation of their
mouse data and previously unstudied aspects of human thymus biology, via three focused specific
aims/Service Tasks: 1) Procurement and processing of human thymus tissues from healthy donors to meet
project-specific translation needs; 2) Enrichment and immunophenotyping of TECs, other stromal cells, and
HAPCs to validate human equivalent markers analogous to those identified in mice in RP 1-3; and 3)
Molecular analysis of thymic stromal cells and HAPC subsets through generation of standardized, quality-
controlled single cell (sc) and bulk RNA-seq data from sorted human thymus populations for analysis by Core
B. In addition to providing critical services to the RPs, the comprehensive database of gene expression in
subsets of TEC, stromal cells, and HAPCs from human thymus that will be generated by this Core will be a
significant new resource for both human and mouse thymus research communities.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10470929
- **Project number:** 5P01AI139449-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Laura P. Hale
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $365,470
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10470929

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10470929, Core C: Human Thymus Core (5P01AI139449-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10470929. Licensed CC0.

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