B‑SYNC CAR T cells that switch on in the brain to treat glioblastoma
Project 3: Novel B-SYNC T cell therapy with CNS-specific expression of CAR as a safe and effective therapy for glioblastoma
A new CAR T‑cell approach that only turns on inside the brain to find and kill glioblastoma cells in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11178471 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers engineer T cells with a synthetic 'synNotch' switch that is primed by a brain‑restricted protein (Brevican/BCAN). When the switch detects that brain signal, the T cells begin to express CARs that target two proteins commonly found on glioblastoma (IL‑13Rα2 and EphA2). This 'prime‑and‑kill' design aims to reach tumor cells that vary in their markers while avoiding activation in non‑brain organs to reduce side effects. Work includes laboratory and preclinical development with the goal of moving toward safe clinical use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with glioblastoma who are eligible for experimental cell‑therapy approaches, particularly those considered for CAR T treatment or clinical trials at specialized centers.
Not a fit: People whose tumors lack the targeted antigens, who have widespread systemic disease, or who are not candidates for cell‑based therapy may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could offer a safer, more targeted CAR T therapy for glioblastoma that kills tumor cells while reducing damage to other organs.
How similar studies have performed: CAR T therapies have shown limited but promising responses in glioblastoma, and the synNotch 'prime‑and‑kill' strategy is a newer, largely preclinical approach with encouraging early results but limited clinical data so far.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Okada, Hideho — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Okada, Hideho
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.