Grant: CIHR New Investigator

T cells are a type of white blood cell that are critical for providing protection against infections and cancer. T cells mature in an organ called the thymus. It is in the thymus where the ability of T cells to discriminate between self and foreign molecules is established. In particular, T cells capable of recognizing foreign molecules are allowed to leave the thymus and enter the circulation, while T cells that recognize self-molecules are eliminated. In humans and mice, it has recently been demonstrated that in cases where self-reactive T cells are not eliminated in the thymus, autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis may develop. My work seeks to understand how self-reactive T cells are eliminated in the thymus using a mouse model system that accurately reflects this physiological process. This information will greatly increase our knowledge of how autoimmune diseases begin and may provide a means to prevent autoimmune disease in susceptible individuals.