Comprehensive look at CAR-T–related brain toxicity in adults
Official title: Comprehensive Molecular and Clinical Characterization of Acute and Chronic Neurotoxicity Following CAR-T Cell Therapy
Funded at Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research · NIH-11380961 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how CAR-T cell therapy can cause acute and lingering brain problems in adults and what signs doctors can watch for.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $659,498 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA293922-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380961 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+ years) who are receiving CAR-T cell therapy for hematologic malignancies and are at risk for ICANS.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not receiving CAR-T therapy or without neurotoxicity risk factors are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how CAR-T therapy can lead to neurotoxicity, focusing on both immediate and long-term brain effects. They will analyze blood and imaging markers to understand the links between inflammation, nerve injury, and cognitive changes. The project also tracks patients’ neurocognitive function and brain scans over several months to identify patterns that predict who is at risk and how outcomes evolve. The goal is to improve detection, monitoring, and care for patients experiencing ICANS and its chronic aftermath.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A clearer understanding of CAR-T–related brain toxicity could lead to earlier detection, better management, and improved long-term brain health for patients treated with CAR-T cells.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data indicate a connection between the kynurenine pathway, inflammation, and ICANS, with ongoing studies showing neurocognitive and imaging changes after CAR-T.
Where this research is happening
-
Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Santomasso, Bianca Denise — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: Santomasso, Bianca Denise
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
SynthNode: A new, easier way to make CAR T cells for better cancer treatment
A new implantable device called SynthNode could simplify and lower the cost of CAR T cell therapy, helping patients with lymphoma, myeloma, and potentially solid tumors or lupus.
-
Intraperitoneal CAR T cells for peritoneal mesothelioma
A new approach uses CAR T cells delivered directly into the abdominal cavity to target mesothelioma, aiming to help people whose disease is confined to the abdomen.
-
Photobiomodulation to Boost CAR-T Cell Therapy for B-Cell Cancers
A patient-facing overview of using light-based therapy to improve CAR-T cell treatment for B-cell cancers, aiming for better effectiveness and lower costs.
-
Targeting death receptors to boost MET-CAR T cells for glioblastoma
Aims to make MET-CAR T cells work better against glioblastoma by using radiation to trigger death receptors on tumor cells.
-
CTO1681: reducing dangerous immune reactions in patients getting CAR T-cell therapy
A new oral drug (CTO1681) aims to prevent and lessen cytokine release syndrome in patients with blood cancers treated with CAR T-cell therapy.
-
CD2-targeted CAR-T therapy for T-cell lymphoma in a multi-center program
A patient-focused overview of a research grant that aims to improve CAR-T cell therapy for T-cell lymphoma by exploring CD2 as a new target and enhancing allogeneic CAR-T safety features.
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.