Advanced Vaccines for Cancer Immunotherapy

Engineered Vaccines for Neoantigen Targeted Cancer Immunotherapy

NIH-funded research Vanderbilt University · NIH-11129654

This project develops new vaccine technology to help the body's immune system fight cancer more effectively in patients who don't respond well to current treatments.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVanderbilt University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11129654 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Many cancer immunotherapies work well for some patients, but not all, often because the body's immune cells aren't strong enough to find and destroy cancer cells. This project creates a new type of vaccine using tiny nanoparticles to deliver specific cancer signals and immune-boosting molecules directly to immune cells. The goal is to train the body's T cells to better recognize and attack cancer, especially in solid tumors. This approach aims to make existing cancer treatments, like immune checkpoint blockade, more effective for more people.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This research is ultimately intended for patients with solid tumors who may not fully benefit from current immune checkpoint blockade therapies.

Not a fit: Patients whose cancers are already highly responsive to existing immunotherapies may not see additional benefit from this specific approach.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more effective cancer vaccines that improve treatment outcomes for patients with various solid tumors.

How similar studies have performed: Early work has shown that this nanoparticle vaccine design can stimulate strong anti-cancer immune responses and improve the effectiveness of other immunotherapies.

Where this research is happening

Nashville, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.