Charlotte Vines

Charlotte Vines serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences within the College of Science at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Her research program focuses on CC Chemokine Receptor 7 (CCR7) signaling in immune cell trafficking and cancer metastasis, particularly in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and central nervous system (CNS) invasion mechanisms.

Her laboratory investigates CCR7's role in regulating migration of T cells, B cells, dendritic cells, and cancer cells into lymphoid organs and the brain during homeostasis, immune responses, and disease states. Key research areas include identifying CCR7-dependent signaling pathways that promote leukemic cell invasion of the CNS, developing in vitro blood-brain barrier models for metastasis studies, and exploring GRK/PI3K-mediated regulation of CCR7 trafficking in human T cells.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on CCR7's dual roles in immunology and oncology, with 70% of articles published between 2022-2024 focusing on T-ALL metastasis mechanisms, CNS invasion pathways, and therapeutic targeting strategies. Her work demonstrates consistent integration of molecular signaling studies with translational cancer applications.

Dr. Vines has secured NIH funding as indicated by institutional news about "medical breakthroughs," and her research has been featured in UTEP's Summer Symposium for emerging researchers. While specific awards aren't detailed in the source text, her work on CCR7 signaling has established significant contributions to understanding chemokine receptor biology in immune and cancer contexts.

Her laboratory actively develops novel models for studying CCR7-mediated processes, including murine T-ALL systems and in vitro blood-brain barrier platforms. Current research directions include identifying signaling targets to block cancer cell chemotaxis and developing anti-CCR7 therapies to prevent CNS metastasis in pediatric leukemia.