Analyzing the tumor environment in multiple myeloma to improve immunotherapy and drug testing.
Official title: Microphysiological platform for analyzing multiple myeloma's tumor microenvironment, enabling immunotherapy assessment and drug screening.
Funded at Northeastern University · NIH-10916687 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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 | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $427,095 |
| NIH project number | 1R33CA291125-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10916687 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma, particularly those who have experienced relapse or resistance to current therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of cancers or those who are not diagnosed with multiple myeloma may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how the tumor microenvironment (TME) affects multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. By creating a 3D cell culture system that closely mimics the TME, researchers aim to study how different components influence cancer cell behavior and treatment resistance. The project will utilize advanced tissue engineering techniques to replicate the conditions found in actual tumors, including factors like oxygen levels and immune interactions. This approach will help identify why some patients respond to therapies like CAR-T while others do not.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective immunotherapies and personalized treatment strategies for patients with multiple myeloma.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using 3D culture systems to study cancer biology, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.
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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3D lab platform that mimics the bone marrow around multiple myeloma for testing immunotherapies
A lab-grown 3D system that recreates the bone marrow environment so researchers can test immunotherapies and drugs for people with multiple myeloma.
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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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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.