Developing a new cell therapy to combat drug resistance in lung cancer

Personalization and Failure Testing of Dual Switch Gene Drives in Lung Cancer

NIH-funded research Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-10977533

This study is testing a new type of cell therapy for people with non-small-cell lung cancer that helps the treatment adapt to the tumor's changes, aiming to make it more effective for those who struggle with drug resistance.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionPennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (University Park, United States)
Project IDNIH-10977533 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on creating a novel cell therapy designed to address the challenge of drug resistance in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). By utilizing synthetic biology, the therapy aims to engineer tumor evolution in real-time, allowing the treatment to adapt to the changing environment of the tumor. The approach involves using dual-switch gene drives that can sense and respond to therapeutic conditions, potentially improving the effectiveness of existing treatments. Patients may benefit from a more personalized and effective treatment strategy that can overcome resistance mechanisms.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with non-small-cell lung cancer who have experienced or are at risk of developing drug resistance.

Not a fit: Patients with lung cancer types other than non-small-cell lung cancer may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for lung cancer patients by overcoming drug resistance.

How similar studies have performed: While the approach of using synthetic biology in cancer treatment is innovative, similar strategies have shown promise in other areas of cancer research, indicating potential for success.

Where this research is happening

University Park, 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.
Conditions Cancer BiologyCancer GenesCancer PatientCancer cell lineCancer-Promoting Gene
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 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.