Blood-based device to capture and grow tumor-fighting immune cells
Engineering high performing microfluidic system for rapid non-invasive isolation and expansion of circulating tumor-reactive lymphocytes
This project develops a blood test/device to quickly capture and expand tumor-targeting immune cells to help people with ovarian and other solid tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251727 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are building a small microfluidic device that can pull rare tumor-reactive lymphocytes out of a standard blood sample without the need for surgery. The captured cells are kept alive and expanded outside the body to create enough cells for potential adoptive cell therapy. This approach is aimed at people whose tumors are not available for biopsy or have already been removed after frontline treatment. The team hopes this will speed up and simplify access to personalized cell therapies for recurrent or metastatic cancers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with recurrent or metastatic ovarian cancer (and possibly other solid tumors) who can travel to the study center and are eligible for cellular therapy procedures.
Not a fit: Patients whose blood does not contain tumor-reactive immune cells, those already cured by initial treatment, or those unable to attend the study site are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make personalized immune cell therapies easier and faster to obtain by using a simple blood draw instead of invasive tumor biopsies.
How similar studies have performed: Adoptive TIL therapies have shown clear benefits in cancers like melanoma, while isolating tumor-reactive cells from blood is a newer and less-tested but promising approach.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kelley, Shana O — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Kelley, Shana O
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.