About me
Adjunct Professor of Clinical Immunology at the Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology from February 1, 2020. Primary position: Head of the Division of Clinical Immunology, Karolinska University Hospital.
Research description
Michael Uhlin is engaged in research concerning the T cells of the immune system and is particularly interested in unconventional T cells, especially the type called γδ (gamma delta) T cells. These make up a smaller proportion of all T cells and less research has been done on them than many other parts of the immune system. Large studies have nevertheless indicated that they are vitally important for the body’s capability to neutralise for example cancer cells. Uhlin’s research team studies the mechanisms that control the activity of γδ T cells – what the cells’ receptors react to and how various subgroups of γδ T cells differ from each other.
The research is conducted close to the clinic, to a large extent on patient material, and the ambition is for the knowledge to be translated into clinical benefit. Part of this is the development of new prognostic methods where γδ T cells are used as markers for how aggressive a cancerous tumour is. Another track concerns the development of new forms of immunotherapy based on the ability of γδ T cells to attack tumour cells.
Text: From Cell to Soicety, 2020