Creating a new type of nanoparticle to improve cancer vaccines
Official title: Designing a targeted 'super adjuvant' nanoparticle platform for vaccination
Funded at University of Massachusetts Amherst · NIH-10874790 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new way to boost cancer vaccines by using tiny particles that deliver special ingredients directly to tumors, aiming to help patients with tough cancers like triple-negative breast cancer have a stronger immune response and a more personalized treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $198,981 |
| NIH project number | 5R21EB034465-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10874790 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with aggressive forms of cancer, particularly triple-negative breast cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-cancerous conditions or those with cancers that do not respond to immunotherapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a novel nanoparticle platform designed to enhance cancer vaccination by delivering multiple adjuvants directly to tumors. The approach aims to stimulate a stronger immune response by using a combination of tumor-specific antigens and multiple adjuvants that activate immune cells more effectively. By targeting the tumor microenvironment, this method seeks to overcome the challenges posed by aggressive cancers like triple-negative breast cancer. Patients may benefit from a more personalized and effective vaccination strategy that utilizes their own tumor antigens.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective cancer vaccines that significantly improve patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using nanoparticles for vaccination is gaining traction, this specific method of combining multiple adjuvants in situ is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Hadley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Atukorale, Prabhani — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Atukorale, Prabhani
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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.