Blocking VIP signaling to help the immune system fight pancreatic cancer
Official title: Targeting VIP–VPAC Signaling to Reverse Immune Exclusion and Enhance Immunotherapy Response in Pancreatic Cancer
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11391935 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant tests a new approach aimed at helping the immune system attack pancreatic cancer by blocking a signaling pathway that's dampening immune responses in tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | June 18, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $636,358 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA314282-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11391935 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) who are eligible for future translational or clinical studies related to VPAC signaling.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with PDAC who do not have tumors driven by VIP/VPAC pathways or who cannot participate in future trials related to this mechanism.
What this research studies
Pancreatic cancer is very hard to treat, and current immunotherapies often don’t work. The project focuses on VIP, a molecule that suppresses immune activity in pancreatic tumors, and tests VPAC receptor blockers to see if they can lift this suppression. Researchers will study how VIP signaling affects immune cells in the tumor and whether blocking it makes T cells and other immune cells more active against cancer. They will examine how this blocking changes immune cell movement into tumors and how T cells interact with other immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. If successful, this work could pave the way for new treatments that enhance anti-tumor immunity in PDAC.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could make pancreatic tumors more responsive to immunotherapies and improve patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown that targeting VPAC signaling can alter immune cell behavior, suggesting potential benefit, though this specific approach is still preclinical.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Waller, Edmund K — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Waller, Edmund K
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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.