Creating a new type of CAR-T therapy for pancreatic cancer
Official title: Development of a Novel Armored CAR-T Immunotherapeutic for Pancreatic Cancer
Funded at Cambium Oncology LLC · NIH-11069693 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new type of CAR-T therapy that aims to help fight pancreatic cancer by training special immune cells to better target and destroy the cancer cells, and it’s looking for patients to join the trials to see how well it works and if it’s safe.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cambium Oncology LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $400,835 |
| NIH project number | 1R44CA298704-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11069693 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who have not responded well to existing therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of cancer or those who are not diagnosed with pancreatic cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a novel CAR-T immunotherapy specifically designed to combat pancreatic cancer, which is known for its challenging treatment landscape. The approach involves engineering CAR T cells to target a specific marker found in pancreatic tumors and to secrete a receptor antagonist that counteracts the immunosuppressive environment created by the tumor. By enhancing the effectiveness of these CAR T cells, the research aims to improve their ability to attack and eliminate cancer cells. Patients may be involved in trials to assess the safety and efficacy of this innovative treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve treatment outcomes for patients with pancreatic cancer by enhancing the effectiveness of CAR T cell therapy.
How similar studies have gone: While CAR T cell therapies have shown success in treating hematologic malignancies, this specific approach for pancreatic cancer is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Cambium Oncology LLC
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Altman, Gary G. — Cambium Oncology LLC
- Study coordinator: Altman, Gary G.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Microbial Dysbiosis and Its Role in Pancreatic Cancer
A doctor-researcher team at Northwestern University is studying how gut bacteria influence pancreatic cancer and its response to immunotherapy to find new ways to help patients.
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Targeting aberrant enhancer landscapes in pancreatic cancer
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-
Exosome-based microRNA biomarkers for early, non-invasive detection of pancreatic cancer
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Exosome-based microRNA biomarkers for early detection of pancreatic cancer
A patient-friendly look at a study using tiny blood-based RNA markers inside exosomes to catch pancreatic cancer early without invasive procedures.
-
Programmable implanted living materials to fight pancreatic cancer
A patient-facing program will explore a safe, implantable living material that delivers sequential immunotherapies directly to pancreatic tumors to help fight cancer.
-
Targeting how platelets and pancreatic cancer talk to each other
A study exploring whether blocking the interaction between platelets and pancreatic cancer cells could slow cancer growth and spread and help identify new biomarkers.
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.