Bioinspired virus-like vaccines to boost CAR T and innate T cells against solid tumors
Official title: Bioinspired virus-like nanovaccines boost CAR T and endogenous T cells in tandem against solid tumors with antigen heterogeneity
Funded at Children's Hosp of Philadelphia · NIH-11367505 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-focused immune-therapy approach aims to help people with solid tumors by boosting CAR T and natural T cells to attack tumors that vary in the targets they express.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | May 13, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $737,082 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA300077-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11367505 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal for patients with solid tumors showing antigen heterogeneity who may receive CAR T-cell therapies in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with tumors lacking the specific targets or who cannot receive CAR T therapy may have limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores a new vaccine-like approach that enhances CAR T cells and other T cells to better recognize and attack solid tumors with diverse target proteins. The strategy uses a virus-inspired delivery system to educate antigen-presenting cells and promote a broader, more powerful immune response. Researchers will test an autologous tumor cell membrane-coated dual CAR therapy in preclinical models to see if it improves tumor control when tumors show antigen heterogeneity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could lead to more durable responses for patients with solid tumors that don’t all express the same target.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier work suggests that boosting CAR T cells and spreading the antigen response can improve tumor control in models with heterogeneous antigens.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ma, Leyuan — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Ma, Leyuan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Pediatric Preclinical In Vivo Testing Center for Pediatric Sarcoma and Other Solid Tumors
A program uses mouse tumor models to identify promising drug candidates for children with sarcoma and other solid tumors.
-
Engineered CAR T immune cells targeting GPC3 for children's solid tumors
Engineered CAR T immune cells that produce IL-15 and IL-21 to better find and fight GPC3-positive solid tumors in children.
-
Boosting CAR T cell power in solid tumors by turning on transcription factors
A new research project tests whether turning on specific human transcription factors can make CAR T cells work better against solid tumors.
-
Engineering CD19 mimotopes to boost and broaden CD19-CAR T cell therapy
A patient-focused look at improving existing CD19-CAR T cell therapy so more people with blood cancers might benefit.
-
Radio-triggered CAR-T cells to better control solid tumors
A new approach uses radiation to turn on and guide CAR-T cells to fight solid tumors more effectively, potentially improving local and distant tumor control for patients with cancer.
-
Understanding how cell behavior changes drive breast cancer in 3D cultures
Researchers are studying how breast cells transition toward cancer using advanced 3D cultures and patient-derived samples to uncover important cell-state changes.
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.