CAR‑T cells that target glioblastoma and turn immune suppression into a boost
Official title: Programming multi-pronged immune response to glioblastoma with IL-13Ra2/TGF-b CAR-T cell therapy.
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11318914 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is trying a new CAR‑T cell treatment that targets a common glioblastoma marker and converts the tumor's immune‑suppressing signal into a stimulant to help people with glioblastoma fight their tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $601,104 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS126849-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11318914 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with confirmed glioblastoma—especially those whose tumors express IL‑13Rα2 or who have recurrent or treatment‑resistant disease—would be the likeliest candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors lack IL‑13Rα2 expression, who are too frail for cell collection or infusion, or who cannot travel for treatment may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
You would have T cells taken and engineered with a bispecific CAR that recognizes IL‑13Rα2 on tumor cells and converts TGF‑β in the tumor into a stimulant for those T cells. The team will test these engineered cells in laboratory and animal models and study patient tumor tissue to map the immune‑suppressive tumor environment. The approach aims to both directly kill tumor cells and reprogram surrounding immune cells so multiple immune types can attack the cancer. If lab results are promising, the work would move toward early human testing for people with recurrent or treatment‑resistant glioblastoma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could produce a stronger and longer‑lasting immune attack against glioblastoma by hitting tumor cells and reversing local immune suppression.
How similar studies have gone: Early CAR‑T trials in glioblastoma have been safe but showed limited clinical success, and the bispecific TGF‑β‑converting strategy represents a newer, less‑tested direction.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Yvonne Yu-Hsuan — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Chen, Yvonne Yu-Hsuan
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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.