# Trans-megakaryocyte migration as neutrophil amplifier

> **NIH NIH K01** · BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL · 2024 · $38,858

## Abstract

Project summary / abstract
This K01 award is to provide Dr. Pierre Cunin with the advanced research training, protected time, and
mentoring needed to become an independent investigator specialized in intravital 2-photon microscopy and
committed to understanding the role of megakaryocytes as a direct modulators of immunity.
Candidate: Dr. Cunin is an Instructor in Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School (Boston MA), in the laboratory of
Dr. Peter Nigrovic in the Division of Immunology at the Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr Cunin’s previous training
has provided him with extensive knowledge in the biology of human and murine immune cells, as well as a
technical expertise in cellular immunology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and murine experimentation.
Research: Dr. Cunin’s K01 project seeks to understand the function of emperipolesis (EP), a cell-in-cell
interaction wherein a neutrophil transits through the cytoplasm of a megakaryocyte. Routinely observed in
bone marrow from all species examined, EP had never been investigated in depth experimentally. Dr. Cunin
found that EP increases in arthritis and other forms of systemic inflammation, suggesting a role in disease. He
previously reported that EP is an active and highly regulated process that mediates bi-directional transfer of
proteins and membrane between neutrophils and megakaryocytes. Preliminary data show that this exchange
has important physiological consequences for neutrophil function. Dr. Cunin will evaluate how EP modulates
the immune function of neutrophils in health and with inflammation. Finally, Dr. Cunin will identify ways to
manipulate EP via targets on neutrophil or megakaryocyte, opening up the possibility of therapeutic targeting.
Mentoring/Training: The long-term goal of the PI is becoming an independent investigator and tenured faculty
member at a leading academic center. The proposed studies and training plan will set the stage for Dr. Cunin
to obtain independent R01 funding and become an internationally recognized leader at the cutting-edge of the
exploration of megakaryocytes as immune cells, as well as of the pathological role of this lineage in
autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. With his appointment as Director of the 2-photon facility in the
Division of Immunology at BCH, he will become an expert in intravital imaging to observe immune cells
behaviors in their organs, in healthy animals or subjected to inflammation. His research training will encompass
in vivo cell visualization and live cell analysis, animal surgery, and bioinformatics for RNA sequencing.
Additionally, he will learn laboratory leadership skills to facilitate the transition to his own laboratory. The work
will be performed in a superb institutional environment with the mentorship of Dr. Peter Nigrovic, an expert in
myeloid biology and inflammatory diseases, Dr. Italiano, an expert in megakaryocyte biology, as well as an
Advisory Committee including Drs. Bergmeier and Kim (surgery and in vivo assessmen...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10812458
- **Project number:** 5K01AR078975-03
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Pierre Cunin
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $38,858
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-04-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10812458

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10812458, Trans-megakaryocyte migration as neutrophil amplifier (5K01AR078975-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10812458. Licensed CC0.

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