Cross-species study of immune responses to cancer immunotherapy in dogs and humans with invasive bladder cancer
Official title: Advancing immunotherapy through cross species studies of immune cell responses and immune checkpoint inhibitor effects in dogs and humans with invasive urinary bladder cancer
Funded at Purdue University · NIH-11411241 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study using dogs with naturally occurring invasive bladder cancer to help improve immune checkpoint therapies for people with the same disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $516,507 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA272280-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411241 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with invasive urothelial carcinoma or dogs with naturally occurring InvUC enrolled in parallel assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not matched to the study’s endpoint measures or without a disease model overlap may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project compares how immune cells respond to checkpoint inhibitors in dogs with bladder cancer to similar responses in humans. Researchers will use canine samples and clinical data to identify predictors of treatment success and adverse events, aiming to bridge animal models and human outcomes. The work will look for shared immune features and treatment effects that could guide better therapies for patients with invasive urothelial carcinoma. The goal is to strengthen the dog model so findings can translate more reliably to human patients in need of effective immunotherapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could improve the effectiveness and safety of immunotherapy for people with invasive bladder cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests that canine InvUC shares key features with human InvUC, supporting cross-species translational potential.
Where this research is happening
-
Purdue University
West Lafayette, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Knapp, Deborah W — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Knapp, Deborah W
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving immunotherapy for invasive bladder cancer using insights from dogs and people
This project compares immune responses and immunotherapy effects in people and pet dogs with invasive bladder cancer to find clues that could help more patients benefit from checkpoint drugs.
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Exploring immune responses in dogs and humans with bladder cancer
This study is looking at how a type of cancer treatment called immune checkpoint inhibitors works for both dogs and humans with bladder cancer, hoping to find ways to make the treatment better for everyone.
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Targeted Internal Radiation and Immune Therapy for Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer
Aims to help people with early bladder cancer that doesn’t respond to current therapy by using a novel intravesical treatment that combines targeted radiation, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and oncolytic virus to trigger a strong anti-cancer response.
-
Using mathematical models to improve immune therapy for bladder cancer
This study is exploring a new way to treat bladder cancer by using your own immune cells to fight the disease, and it aims to make the treatment more effective and easier on your body by giving smaller doses directly into the bladder.
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Boosting immune response to fight cancer
This study is exploring a new way to help your immune system better fight cancer by tweaking certain cells in your body, and it aims to improve treatment for people with advanced cancer.
-
A center focused on immunotherapy for pediatric cancers.
This study is exploring new ways to use the body's immune system to fight childhood cancers, aiming to create better treatments for kids whose cancers haven't responded well to standard therapies.
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.