Exercise as an Immune Boost for gd T-cell Therapies in Blood Cancers
Official title: Exercise as an Immune Adjuvant for Gamma Delta T-cell Therapies in Hematologic Malignancies
Funded at University of Arizona · NIH-11313816 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A doctor-research team is studying whether exercise can boost a special kind of immune cell to fight blood cancers like ALL and NHL.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $629,554 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA277493-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11313816 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with hematologic malignancies such as ALL or NHL who are candidates for gd T-cell–based therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to gd T-cell therapies or who cannot tolerate exercise or the study procedures may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores whether exercising can mobilize gd T-cells in the body and enhance their cancer-fighting abilities, potentially improving gd T-cell therapies. Researchers plan to combine exercise with cell preparation methods and a CAR to create a more effective treatment for leukemia and related diseases. The study builds on prior work showing gd T-cells can be expanded and used against tumors, with the goal of making off-the-shelf therapies more potent. It will involve translating laboratory findings toward approaches that could benefit patients who relapse after stem cell transplantation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with ALL or NHL could have access to more effective, ready-to-use gd T-cell therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical and early clinical data suggest gd T-cells can fight tumors, and combining exercise or AR agonists may further enhance their activity.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Arizona
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Simpson, Richard J — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Simpson, Richard J
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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.