Engineering CD19 mimotopes to boost and broaden CD19-CAR T cell therapy
Official title: Engineering CD19 mimotopes for enhancing and repurposing CD19-CAR T against hematological malignancies and solid tumors
Funded at Children's Hosp of Philadelphia · NIH-11449957 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-focused look at improving existing CD19-CAR T cell therapy so more people with blood cancers might benefit.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 4, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $738,666 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA309280-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11449957 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with CD19-positive B-cell malignancies who may be eligible for future CD19-CAR T–based trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancers do not express CD19 or do not respond to CAR T cells may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant aims to make current CD19-CAR T cell therapy stronger and more versatile by using a small, high-affinity CD19 mimotope that can work across all four FDA-approved CD19-CAR products. The work is grounded in laboratory studies and preclinical models to understand how to enhance T cell persistence and tumor targeting without increasing harm. If successful, this could translate into more durable responses for patients with B-cell malignancies and some solid tumors that express CD19-related targets. The project involves collaboration with a pediatric cancer center to explore clinical relevance and potential future trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience longer-lasting responses and broader applicability of CD19-CAR T therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous CD19-CAR T therapy research has established a foundation; this project builds on that by introducing mimotopes to broaden efficacy.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ma, Leyuan — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Ma, Leyuan
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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.