Understanding and harnessing the draining lymph node as a filter
Description of the granted funding
Lymph nodes are a central part of the body's defense system. Various foreign substances, such as molecules derived from bacteria, viruses, or cancer cells, are constantly transported to them. These substances arrive in the lymph nodes with the lymph fluid, and the lymph nodes filter them to combat harmful agents and initiate an immune response. However, this filtering process is not yet fully understood. The goal of our research is to determine how lymph nodes recognize and process foreign lymph-borne substances. We aim to understand how foreign molecules are distributed across different regions of the lymph node and how they affect various types of structural cells in the lymph node, such as lymphatic and connective tissue cells. Additionally, we are looking for ways to influence the filtering molecules of the lymph nodes and the function of structural cells, thereby enhancing the body's ability to defend against foreign molecules, for example, in infectious diseases and cancer.
Show moreStarting year
2025
End year
2029
Granted funding
Funder
Research Council of Finland
Funding instrument
Academy projects
Decision maker
Scientific Council for Biosciences, Health and the Environment
16.06.2025
16.06.2025
Other information
Funding decision number
371025
Fields of science
Biomedicine
Research fields
Biolääketieteet