Drugs that target BTN3A1 to boost two types of T cells against cancer
Synthesis and evaluation of BTN3A1 ligands for cancer immunotherapy
Creating new drug-like molecules that aim to activate two kinds of T cells to help people whose cancers don’t respond to current immunotherapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Storrs NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Storrs-Mansfield, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11318899 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are designing and making new small-molecule ligands that bind the immune protein BTN3A1 with a focus on improving stability, cell uptake, and tumor targeting. They are using a phosphonate scaffold and a new prodrug chemistry to try to overcome problems seen with earlier compounds. The team will test these molecules in cell-based experiments and in mouse models of cancer to see whether they activate both αβ and γδ T cells and reduce tumors. The work is laboratory- and animal-based at the University of Connecticut, aiming to produce candidates suitable for later clinical testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with tumors that resist existing immunotherapies, including some ovarian cancers, would be the likely beneficiaries of therapies developed from this research.
Not a fit: Because this is early laboratory and animal work, patients needing immediate treatment or whose cancers are not driven by T‑cell responses are unlikely to benefit directly from this grant.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to safer, more effective immunotherapy options for cancers that don’t respond to current treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Related BTN3A1 agonists have shown tumor control with low toxicity in mouse models, but current compounds have poor drug-like properties, so this prodrug strategy is a novel attempt to improve on those results.
Where this research is happening
Storrs-Mansfield, United States
- University of Connecticut Storrs — Storrs-Mansfield, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wiemer, Andrew J — University of Connecticut Storrs
- Study coordinator: Wiemer, Andrew J
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.