Developing a simulator to improve immune cell access to cancer cells

Integrated Immune Engineering for Poor Prognosis Cancers

NIH-funded research University of Minnesota · NIH-10896022

This study is working on a special computer model that helps us understand how cancer and immune cells interact, which could lead to better treatments for tough cancers like pancreatic and brain cancer, and it’s designed for researchers and doctors looking to improve immunotherapy options.

Quick facts

Grant typeP01 program project
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Minnesota NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Minneapolis, United States)
Project IDNIH-10896022 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on creating a multiscale tumor simulator that predicts how immune and cancer cells interact and migrate. By using advanced live cell microscopy, the team will quantitatively measure these interactions to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapies, particularly for challenging cancers like pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and glioblastoma. The simulator will integrate various engineering approaches to refine immunotherapy strategies, allowing for experimental testing of predictions made by the model. This collaborative effort involves biomedical engineers, immunologists, and genetic engineers working together to improve cancer treatment outcomes.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or glioblastoma who are seeking innovative treatment options.

Not a fit: Patients with cancers that are not targeted by this research or those who are not eligible for immunotherapy may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective immunotherapies for patients with poor prognosis cancers.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in using computational models to enhance immunotherapy, indicating that this approach could be effective.

Where this research is happening

Minneapolis, 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 Brain Cancer
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 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.