# Elucidating the Role of Regulatory T cells in Protecting Epithelial Stem Cell Niches

> **NIH NIH K08** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2023 · $176,148

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This proposal describes a 5-year research and career development plan that will enable Dr. Jarish Cohen to
achieve his long-term goal of becoming an independently funded physician-scientist studying how regulatory T
cells (Tregs) protect cutaneous epithelial stem cells during development, homeostasis, and disease. Currently,
very little is known about the mechanisms skin-resident immune cells use to safeguard cutaneous epithelial stem
cells in inflammatory dermatoses and alopecias. The proposed research will focus on uncovering the
mechanisms by which Tregs protect hair follicle stem cells (HFSC) from attack by autoreactive T cells. Dr. Cohen
has generated a novel experimental in vivo model of Treg-mediated protection of HFSC from autoimmune attack,
that closely resembles a highly morbid form of human scarring alopecia. Additionally, he has pioneered a highly
innovative topical technique to delete genes specifically in skin-resident Tregs, which will allow him to resolve
organ-specific mechanisms of Treg-mediated immunoprotection of stem cells. In Aim 1, Dr. Cohen will elucidate
the spatial and temporal kinetics of Treg-mediated HFSC protection and dissect the mechanism of skin Treg
localization to the HFSC niche. Aim 2 will focus on elucidation of the distinct mechanisms that Tregs in the skin
and lymph nodes employ to safeguard against HFSC destruction. In Aim 3, Dr. Cohen will leverage
comprehensive transcriptomic and cutting-edge imaging technologies to identify molecules and pathways of
Treg dysfunction and altered patterns of Treg localization in human scarring alopecias. The aggregate data will
provide a major advancement in our understanding of how Tregs promote immune tolerance of epithelial stem
cells and have the potential to identify novel therapeutic strategies to treat human dermatoses.
During his post-doctoral work and as a Clinical Instructor in the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
Dermatopathology Service, Dr. Cohen has strategically sought out additional training and mentorship in
cutaneous immunology. Under the mentorship of Dr. Michael Rosenblum, M.D., Ph.D., an expert in skin Treg
biology, the candidate, co-mentors (Drs. Jason Cyster, Ph.D., and Ophir Klein, M.D., Ph.D.), and scientific
advisors (Drs. Boris Bastian, M.D., Ph.D., and Abul Abbas M.D., Ph.D.) have developed a career development
plan for Dr. Cohen to gain additional experience in state of the art immunology and cutting-edge imaging
techniques, biostatistics, epithelial stem cell biology, and scientific communication. To enhance Dr. Cohen's
training, a multidisciplinary advisory committee consisting of mentors, scientific advisors, and Dr. Jayanta
Debnath, M.D., chair of the UCSF Department of Pathology, will meet biannually to review his progress and
support his career development. The proposed training program draws on the combined resources of the
Rosenblum Laboratory, the UCSF Immunology Training Program, and the UCSF Dep...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10683328
- **Project number:** 5K08AR079596-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Jarish Newman Cohen
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $176,148
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-08-15 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10683328

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10683328, Elucidating the Role of Regulatory T cells in Protecting Epithelial Stem Cell Niches (5K08AR079596-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10683328. Licensed CC0.

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