Changing the bone marrow environment to help immunotherapy for blood cancers
Official title: BM NICHE DISRUPTION AND IMMUNOTHERAPY IN HEMATOLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11171350 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Developing new ways to alter the bone marrow so immunotherapies and donor stem-cell transplants work better for people with blood cancers and related disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2016 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $244,777 |
| NIH project number | 5R50CA211466-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11171350 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with hematologic malignancies or related conditions who are eligible for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant or early-phase immunotherapy trials would be the main candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without blood cancers or those not eligible for transplant or early-phase immunotherapy trials are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
This program aims to improve immune-based treatments like allogeneic stem cell transplants and CAR T therapy by targeting the bone marrow 'niche,' improving stem cell collection, and reducing graft-versus-host disease and relapse. Researchers combine lab models, cancer genomics, and early-phase clinical trials and have previously performed correlative studies involving hundreds of patients. Work includes testing mobilization agents, antibody and cell-based strategies, and other approaches to make the marrow environment more favorable for curative therapy. If eligible, patients might be asked to participate in clinical trials or provide samples for correlative studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could increase cure rates and lower complications such as graft-versus-host disease for people receiving stem cell transplants or immunotherapies for blood cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Some components, like improved stem cell mobilization agents and CAR T therapies, have shown clinical success, but combining marrow-niche targeting with transplant and immunotherapy is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rettig, Michael — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Rettig, Michael
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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.