3D lab platform that mimics the bone marrow around multiple myeloma for testing immunotherapies
Official title: Microphysiological platform for analyzing multiple myeloma's tumor microenvironment, enabling immunotherapy assessment and drug screening.
Funded at Northeastern University · NIH-11141897 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A lab-grown 3D system that recreates the bone marrow environment so researchers can test immunotherapies and drugs for people with multiple myeloma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northeastern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $410,792 |
| NIH project number | 5R33CA291125-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11141897 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with multiple myeloma—especially those with relapsed or treatment‑resistant disease—would be the most relevant candidates to donate bone marrow or tumor samples for this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without multiple myeloma or those who need immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to get direct benefit from this lab-based research.
What this research studies
This project will build a 3D microphysiological platform that recreates the bone marrow tumor environment, including immune cells, support (stromal) cells, fluid flow, and oxygen gradients. The system is designed to keep myeloma cells and immune cells alive together long enough to see how they interact and respond to treatments. Scientists will use the platform to test CAR‑T cells, bispecific antibodies, and drug combinations under more realistic conditions than standard cell dishes. Findings are intended to reveal mechanisms of treatment resistance and guide better therapy choices.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help explain why some immunotherapies stop working and speed development of treatments that keep myeloma under control longer.
How similar studies have gone: Immunotherapies like CAR‑T and bispecific antibodies have shown strong response rates in myeloma patients, but lab platforms that fully reproduce the bone marrow microenvironment are relatively new and still being refined.
Where this research is happening
-
Northeastern University
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Konry, Tania Tali — Northeastern University
- Study coordinator: Konry, Tania Tali
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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3D tumor microenvironment platform to test immunotherapies for multiple myeloma
A 3D, lab-grown model of multiple myeloma’s tumor environment is being developed to help test immunotherapies and new drug options.
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New targets on myeloma cells to drive smarter immunotherapies
Researchers are seeking new cell surface targets on myeloma cells to develop better immunotherapies for people with multiple myeloma who have exhausted other treatments.
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Finding new targets on cancer cells for better multiple myeloma treatments
This research looks for new ways to target multiple myeloma cells to create more effective and lasting immune-based therapies for patients.
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Finding new targets for immunotherapy in Multiple Myeloma
This study is looking for new ways to treat Multiple Myeloma by finding specific proteins on cancer cells that could help create better immunotherapies, with the hope of helping patients stay in remission longer after their current treatments.
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Analyzing the tumor environment in multiple myeloma to improve immunotherapy and drug testing.
This study is looking at how the environment around myeloma cells affects the cancer and its response to treatments, using a special 3D model to better understand why some patients do well with therapies like CAR-T while others don’t.
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Integrative study of multiple myeloma genetics and disease biology
A team at Dana-Farber and partners is pursuing a long-term project to understand the genetic and molecular drivers of multiple myeloma and how treatments interact with disease biology.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.