# Core C TEST IT

> **NIH NIH P30** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $191,275

## Abstract

The skin forms a primary interface with the environment, with the keratinocyte a critical component of the innate
immune system. Perturbation of healthy skin can lead to inflammation through cutaneous immune responses.
As such, the immunology of skin is an important focus of a SBDRC with “The Keratinocyte and its
Microenvironment” as its theme. he skin immune system entails an interactive set of innate and adaptive immune
cells that can be studied in situ, taken apart for studies at the single cell level, or reconstructed to recreate
immune conditions of the skin. The objective of the Translational and Experimental Skin Testing and Immune
Tracing (TEST IT) Core is to support and promote the research of SBDRC scientists interested in human and
murine cutaneous immune responses in health and disease. The Core will isolate various immune cells from
healthy and diseased skin, including at the single cell level, and offer preparative services for the characterization
of these cells directly or in functional assays. Using Vectra multispectral imaging equipment, the Core will assist
in designing experiments allowing in situ monitoring of human and mouse skin samples, explants and engineered
skin. The Core will provide guidance for the efficient expansion of immune cells from skin and blood to be
recombined with 3D reconstituted human skin or explants by the Skin Tissue Engineering and Morphology
(STEM Core). Prior to reconstruction, cells can be genetically manipulated with products from the Gene
Engineering, Transduction and Nanotechnology (GET iN) Core. These engineered keratinocyte-immune cell
models will then be available for further immune assessment. A unique and highly novel aspect of the TEST IT
core will be to provide a skin challenge facility for in vivo monitoring. This will be accomplished through a
dedicated clinical unit and staff to test exposure to environmental agents that affect skin immunologically,
whether in a potentially deleterious way, such as ultraviolet/UV light, or in a beneficial way, such as topical
medications that suppress immune responses. The Core will oversee the Tissue Acquisition Program (TAP),
which obtains archival samples, as well as fresh skin, blood, and other samples (including through the in vivo
skin challenge facility) for a central biorepository with secure records; coded, deidentified tissues are distributed
to scientists for use in individual laboratories or the service Cores. The Core will also maintain a roster of healthy
volunteers and individuals with skin disease who are willing to participate in IRB-approved, skin challenge
experiments. These translational studies support mechanistic investigations and provide proof-of-concept data.
The Core also focuses on training the research community about immunodermatology, offering expertise in
designing mouse and human experiments involving the skin immune system and generating course material in
immunodermatology, immunotherapeutics, and immune monitoring. T...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9999407
- **Project number:** 5P30AR075049-02
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** I. Caroline Le Poole
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $191,275
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-20 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9999407

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9999407, Core C TEST IT (5P30AR075049-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9999407. Licensed CC0.

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