Biomaterials to make CAR‑T cells inside the body or outside it
Biomaterial Scaffolds for Ex Vivo and In Situ CAR-T Cell Production
Researchers are developing implantable and lab-grown materials to create CAR‑T cells faster and cheaper for people with B‑cell cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11512834 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work builds soft, biocompatible scaffolds that can be used either in the lab to speed up CAR‑T cell manufacturing or implanted to convert a patient’s own T cells into CAR‑T cells inside the body. The scaffolds deliver genes and activation signals while preserving T cell fitness to improve persistence and effectiveness. By reducing long ex vivo culture steps, the approach aims to cut costs and shorten the time from referral to infusion. The team will test the materials in preclinical models and with human cells to demonstrate safety and function before clinical testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with B‑cell malignancies who are eligible for or being considered for CAR‑T therapy, especially those needing rapid treatment.
Not a fit: People with non‑B‑cell cancers or those who are not candidates for immune cell therapies are unlikely to benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make CAR‑T therapy quicker, much less expensive, and more durable for people with B‑cell cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Related lab and animal studies using biomaterials and in vivo gene delivery have shown promise, but making CAR‑T cells inside the body in humans remains an early and largely untested idea.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brudno, Yevgeny — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Brudno, Yevgeny
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 below.