Vijay KUCHROO's research mainly focuses on the regulation of T cell responses in the context of autoimmune disease, to elucidate the role of cytokines and transcription factors in the differentiation of CD4+ T helper subsets and the role of co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory receptors and their ligands in the regulation of autoreactive T cell responses.
The team identified Tim-3 on CD4+ Th1 cells, leading to the discovery of the TIM molecule family. Tim-3 is now recognized as an important co-inhibitory receptor that dampens T cell responses in chronic viral diseases and cancer. Other key discoveries made in his lab include the elucidation of the differentiation factors for Th17, Th9 and Tr1 cells, all of which have a major influence on the development of autoimmunity and tissue inflammation.

Vijay Kuchroo is invited by Armelle Blondel.