Defining the role of CD8+ T regulatory cells in Human Health and Disease.

About the project

About the Project PhD Only Summary Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for preventing harmful immune responses and maintaining healthy tissues. While CD4⁺ Tregs are well understood and are already being developed as therapies for autoimmune disease and transplantation, CD8+Tregs have received very little attention. These cells are extremely rare in human blood, which has limited previous research. However, our recent work shows that they are highly enriched in many human tissues, particularly the gut, lung and liver, where they make up almost half of all FOXP3⁺ Tregs. These CD8⁺Tregs show features of long-term residency within tissues and express molecules associated with sensing and repairing tissue damage. Together these discoveries suggest thatCD8⁺Tregs may play a previously unrecognised role in controlling inflammation, supporting repair, and maintaining organ health in humans. Project Aims This project aims to investigate the biology and function of human CD8⁺Tregs, focusing on how they suppress immune responses, how they are activated, and how their function is shaped by different tissue environments. By examining their interactions with other immune cells and their distribution across human tissues, the project will provide new insights into the role of CD8⁺ Tregs in regulating immune responses and maintaining tissue homeostasis. How to Apply; If you are interested in this project, please go to the University pages and apply via the online portal; PhD https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/cvcnpdpcn/apply

Research areas