Dr. Vines and her lab study the G protein-coupled receptor called CC Chemokine Receptor 7 (CCR7). This receptor (expressed on different populations of T cells, activated B cells, neutrophils, monocytes, NKT cells, dendritic cells and certain cancer cells) plays critical roles in regulating trafficking of these cells into and out of the lymphoid organs and/or the brain. Her laboratory studies the signaling events that are controlled by CCR7 that promote migration of cells in the body, during homeostasis, during an immune response and during disease states. In addition, her laboratory is working to identify signaling events in T cell cancers that can serve as targets to block growth or chemotaxis of these cancers.