NIH-funded research R21 grant

Creating a new therapy using engineered T cells for kidney cancer

Official title: Developing TCR-T cell therapy in renal cell carcinoma

Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11012880 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is exploring a new treatment that uses specially designed immune cells to find and kill kidney cancer cells, aiming to give patients with this type of cancer a better option for fighting their disease.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionRutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES)
Project startJanuary 18, 2024
Project endNovember 30, 2025
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$165,145
NIH project number5R21CA286389-02
Project IDNIH-11012880 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma who have specific tumor antigens recognized by engineered T cells.

Less likely to help

Patients with other types of cancer or those who do not express the targeted tumor antigens may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing a novel therapy that utilizes engineered T cells to target and destroy kidney cancer cells. By identifying specific tumor antigens that these T cells can recognize, the researchers aim to enhance the immune response against renal cell carcinoma. The approach involves activating tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) from patients and testing their effectiveness against cancer cells in the laboratory. If successful, this therapy could provide a new treatment option for patients with this type of cancer.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a new, effective treatment for patients with renal cell carcinoma.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using engineered T cell therapies for various cancers, indicating potential success for this approach in renal cell carcinoma.

Where this research is happening

  • Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
    Newark, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Chiou, Shin-Heng — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
  • Study coordinator: Chiou, Shin-Heng

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.