Camk2b loss fuels pancreatic cancer spread and immune suppression
Official title: Uncovering the mechanisms by which CAMK2B loss promotes metastasis and immune suppression in pancreatic cancer
Funded at Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · NIH-11448883 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new NIH grant seeks to understand why losing CAMK2B in pancreatic cancer makes the cancer spread more and suppresses immune responses, using advanced mouse models.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | September 3, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $134,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R56CA303722-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11448883 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with pancreatic cancer or at risk of metastasis could benefit from future therapies informed by this research.
✕Less likely to help
This grant does not involve direct patient testing or recruitment at this stage, so immediate personal participation isn’t required.
What this research studies
Researchers are using genetically engineered mouse models to study how loss of CAMK2B in pancreatic tumor cells drives metastasis and changes the tumor immune environment. The work explores tumor-intrinsic pathways and how these cells interact with the body to promote spread. It aims to identify mechanisms, such as changes in immune cell presence and signaling pathways, that could be targeted in future therapies. The project will generate data that may point to new strategies to prevent or treat metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to new targets to prevent metastasis and improve immune responses against pancreatic cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous mouse-model studies have shown that CAMK2B loss can promote metastasis and immune changes, supporting this approach as promising but still exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pitarresi, Jason R. — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Pitarresi, Jason R.
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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.