Our team investigates how the location of immune cells within tissues governs their function, using advanced spatial transcriptomics and genetic perturbation strategies. Our recent work, published in Nature, revealed that tissue-resident memory CD8 T cells adopt distinct functions depending on their position within the intestinal architecture, highlighting how tissue niches imprint immune cell fate and behavior​​. Regional signaling, cytokine gradients, and cell–cell interactions shape whether T cells differentiate into effector-like or memory-like subsets, highlighting how tissue niches imprint immune cell fate and function. Building on these findings, we are now exploring strategies in mouse models to target these pathways. By analyzing transcription factors and molecular circuits that regulate spatial differentiation and positioning, we aim to identify approaches to enhance protective immunity or modulate pathological immune responses at specific tissue sites.

How are immune cells organized within human tissues, and how does their location influence their function? To address these fundamental questions, we are building a comprehensive spatial map of immune cells across human barrier tissues, including the gastrointestinal tract and associated lymphoid structures. Through national and international collaborations, we combine spatial transcriptomics, single-cell profiling, and computational analysis to systematically define the cellular composition, spatial organization, and microenvironmental signals that govern tissue immunity. We seek to map immune and non-immune cell types within their native tissue architecture, delineate discrete cellular niches, and chart spatial gradients of key signals such as cytokines and chemokines in health and disease.