CAR neutrophils made inside the body to fight glioblastoma
CAR neutrophils produced in vivo to remodel tumor microenvironment and treat glioblastoma
This project will reprogram neutrophils inside the body so they can cross the blood-brain barrier and attack glioblastoma tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11323581 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use synthetic biology and sequencing to change how tumor-associated neutrophils behave so they act like cancer-killing cells. They will apply machine learning to analyze tumor environments and design molecules that program neutrophils in vivo. The work will be tested in laboratory models and in mice and dogs to see if the reprogrammed neutrophils reach brain tumors and remodel the tumor microenvironment. The goal is to find approaches that could later be translated into treatments that reach tumors behind the blood-brain barrier.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with glioblastoma, particularly those with recurrent or hard-to-treat tumors, would be the likely candidates for future clinical trials based on this work.
Not a fit: Patients without brain tumors or those with non-glioblastoma cancers are unlikely to benefit directly from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a new way to deliver immune-cell therapy across the blood-brain barrier and better control or shrink glioblastoma tumors.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies showed engineered CAR-neutrophils from stem cells can reduce tumors in animals, but programming neutrophils inside the body is a new and largely untested approach.
Where this research is happening
West Lafayette, United States
- Purdue University — West Lafayette, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bao, Xiaoping — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Bao, Xiaoping
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.