A toolkit to fine-tune T cell activity for better cancer treatment
Official title: Synthetic biology toolkit for precise tuning of T cell activity
Funded at Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr · NIH-10885170 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at ways to make CAR T cell therapy safer and more effective for people with blood cancers by exploring how T cells work, so they can create better treatments for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | July 10, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $189,781 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI174606-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10885170 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with hematological malignancies who are considering or currently undergoing CAR T cell therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with solid tumors or those not eligible for CAR T cell therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving CAR T cell therapy, which is a promising treatment for certain blood cancers. It aims to address safety concerns and enhance the effectiveness of these therapies by investigating the mechanisms behind T cell activation and exhaustion. By understanding how calcium signaling affects T cell behavior, the researchers hope to develop a synthetic biology toolkit that can precisely control T cell activity. This could lead to safer and more effective cancer treatments for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer and more effective CAR T cell therapies for patients with blood cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in enhancing CAR T cell therapies, but this approach is innovative and aims to refine existing methods.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhou, Yubin — Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
- Study coordinator: Zhou, Yubin
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.