Creating a universal cell therapy using macrophages for pancreatic cancer treatment

Develop universal CAR macrophage cell therapy for pancreatic cancer

['FUNDING_R21'] · RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES · NIH-10936074

This study is testing a new treatment that uses specially designed immune cells to help fight pancreatic cancer, aiming to make existing therapies work better for patients.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R21']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorRUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES (nih funded)
Locations1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-10936074 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing a new type of cell therapy that uses macrophages, which are immune cells that can help fight cancer. The approach involves engineering these macrophages with special receptors to target and destroy pancreatic cancer cells, particularly those that have undergone apoptosis (cell death). By using a universal 'off-the-shelf' therapy, the goal is to enhance the effectiveness of existing cancer treatments and improve patient outcomes. The research will utilize models of pancreatic cancer to test the effectiveness of this therapy.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who may benefit from innovative cancer therapies.

Not a fit: Patients with non-solid tumors or those who do not have pancreatic cancer may not receive any benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new, effective treatment option for patients with pancreatic cancer.

How similar studies have performed: While the use of engineered macrophages in cancer therapy is a growing field, this specific approach targeting phosphatidylserine in pancreatic cancer is novel and has not been extensively tested.

Where this research is happening

Newark, UNITED STATES

Researchers

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 below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.