Designer proteins that help grow therapeutic T cells
Engineering Protein Modulators of Notch Activation for T-cell immunotherapy
Researchers are creating small engineered proteins that flip a molecular switch to grow engineered T cells that could help people needing immune therapies for cancer or autoimmune diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11140448 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project aims to make tiny protein tools (nanobodies) that open the Notch1 receptor so precursor cells can be turned into T cells without needing complex cell co-culture. The team uses protein engineering methods like phage display to find and optimize nanobodies that bind and pry open a hidden Notch switch. By removing the need for companion cells during differentiation, the approach could speed up and simplify making engineered T cells and allow better editing and testing of precursor cells before they become T cells. The work is done in a lab setting at the University of Minnesota and is intended to support future therapies for cancer, autoimmune disease, transplant rejection, and immune deficiencies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers or autoimmune conditions who may someday receive engineered T cell therapies would be the eventual candidates for treatments developed from this work.
Not a fit: Patients who need immediate treatment or whose conditions are unrelated to T cell–based therapies are unlikely to benefit directly from this early-stage research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make it faster and easier to produce engineered T cell therapies and broaden access to such treatments.
How similar studies have performed: While engineered T cell therapies (like CAR‑T) have had clinical success and lab methods to make T cells exist, using engineered nanobodies to open the Notch1 switch is a novel approach that has not yet been tested in patients.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Muretta, Joseph M. — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Muretta, Joseph M.
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 below.