NIH-funded research R01 grant

Direct-to-CNS CAR T cells for PCNSL treatment

Official title: Intracerebroventricular (ICV) Administration of CD19-Targeting Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cells for Treatment of Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma

Funded at Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope · NIH-11399143 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A patient-focused look at using CD19 CAR T cells delivered directly into the brain to treat primary CNS lymphoma.

More Lymphoma research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBeckman Research Institute/city of Hope
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Duarte, United States)
Project startSeptember 9, 2022
Project endAugust 31, 2028
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$710,482
NIH project number5R01CA266611-05
Project IDNIH-11399143 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma who may be eligible for CNS-directed CAR T-cell therapy.

Less likely to help

Patients with contraindications to CAR T-cell therapy or with disease characteristics unlikely to respond to CNS-delivered CAR T cells.

What this research studies

This project tests a CAR T-cell therapy delivered straight into the brain to target cancer in the CNS, aiming to overcome barriers that limit traditional IV therapy. It builds on prior lab and early human work showing CAR T cells can reach the CNS and fight tumor cells. By refining a brain-delivery approach, researchers hope for better tumor control and durability of response for people with PCNSL. The study is conducted at City of Hope with established manufacturing and safety checks to oversee treatment delivery. If successful, this could open new options for patients with this challenging disease.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience better tumor control and potentially longer survival with a therapy tailored to reach tumors inside the CNS.

How similar studies have gone: Earlier IV CAR T-cell trials show CNS activity, and locoregional delivery in other CNS cancers has shown promise in early studies.

Where this research is happening

  • Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
    Duarte, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Wang, Xiuli — Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
  • Study coordinator: Wang, Xiuli

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • CD19 CAR T cells given into the brain fluid for primary CNS lymphoma

    This work uses CD19-directed CAR T cells delivered into the fluid around the brain to treat people with primary central nervous system lymphoma.

    NIH research Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope · Duarte, United States · NIH-11191591

  • Using targeted immune cells to treat brain lymphoma

    This study is testing a new way to treat primary central nervous system lymphoma by delivering special immune cells directly into the brain to help them better fight the cancer, and it's designed for patients looking for more effective options than what's currently available.

    NIH research Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope · Duarte, United States · NIH-10912468

  • Understanding why Black and Hispanic Hodgkin lymphoma patients have worse survival

    A patient-centered study to uncover social and care factors that contribute to lower survival among Black and Hispanic people with Hodgkin lymphoma across all ages.

    NIH research University of Miami School of Medicine · Coral Gables, United States · NIH-11572148

  • Preventing follicular lymphoma progression with precision therapy

    This grant tests a targeted approach to stop follicular lymphoma from getting worse or turning into a more aggressive cancer.

    NIH research New York University School of Medicine · New York, United States · NIH-11504820

  • Novel combination therapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma in people and dogs

    A new treatment combo using an oncolytic virus and other therapies is being tested to help people with hard-to-treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with studies also involving dogs to better understand responses.

    NIH research Mayo Clinic Rochester · Rochester, United States · NIH-11473229

  • Cyclin D1 and DNA Repair in Mantle Cell Lymphoma: A Path to New Therapies

    A clinician-researcher at Mayo Clinic is pursuing advanced training and research to understand how Cyclin D1 drives replication stress and to explore new targeted treatments for high-risk mantle cell lymphoma.

    NIH research Mayo Clinic Rochester · Rochester, United States · NIH-11451705

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.