Creating customizable immune cells to fight cancer

Programmable Off-the-Shelf Dendritic Cells as an Immunotherapy Discovery Platform

NIH-funded research New York University · NIH-10923501

This study is working on creating special immune cells that can be easily made and used to help your body fight cancer by showing it exactly what to attack, making treatment more effective and available for more people.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNew York University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-10923501 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing programmable dendritic cells that can be engineered to present tumor-specific antigens to T cells, enhancing the immune response against various cancers. By overcoming the limitations of current immunotherapies, which are often restricted by the diversity of human leukocyte antigens (HLAs), this project aims to create 'off-the-shelf' dendritic cells that can be used by a broader patient population. The approach involves generating these cells at an industrial scale, allowing for rapid testing and validation of new T cell receptors and antigens. Patients may benefit from a more effective and accessible immunotherapy option that harnesses their own immune system to target cancer cells.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients with solid tumors who may benefit from enhanced immunotherapy options.

Not a fit: Patients with cancers that do not express tumor-specific antigens or those who are not eligible for immunotherapy may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new, more effective immunotherapy option for cancer patients.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in using dendritic cells for immunotherapy, but this approach aims to innovate by creating a more universally applicable platform.

Where this research is happening

New York, 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.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.