Boosting T cell signals to make cancer immunotherapy work better
Optimizing TCR-CD3 signaling for immunotherapy of cancer
Researchers will change how T cells send signals so immunotherapy can kill cancer cells more effectively for people with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11303365 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will study how the T cell receptor (TCR) interacts with the CD3 signaling complex and make precise changes to TCR regions that influence signaling. They will use lab-based assays, biosensors, and cell models to measure signaling strength, cytokine responses, binding, and tumor-killing, and will test promising changes in preclinical models. The goal is to increase immune-mediated killing of tumor cells without altering the T cells' antigen specificity to avoid off-target toxicity. Results could guide development of safer, more effective engineered T cell therapies for patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers treated or considered for T cell therapies—such as candidates for adoptive T cell therapy or those whose tumors express known target antigens—would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers do not respond to T cell–based approaches, who lack targetable antigens, or who have severe immune system problems may not benefit from these specific advances.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to safer, more effective T cell–based immunotherapies that improve tumor control without increasing off-target harm.
How similar studies have performed: Prior approaches that raised TCR affinity improved tumor responses but sometimes caused dangerous off-target effects, while directly tuning TCR-CD3 signaling is a newer strategy with encouraging lab data but limited clinical proof so far.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Krogsgaard, Michelle — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Krogsgaard, Michelle
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.