Exploring how specific B cells can fight tumors
Official title: Advanced Genetic Engineering to Unravel Tumor-Specific B Cell Responses
Funded at Boston Children's Hospital · NIH-11032965 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how special immune cells called B cells can be changed to better fight cancer, with the hope of creating new treatments that help your body’s own defenses target tumors more effectively.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $249,645 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA296527-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11032965 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with solid tumors who may benefit from enhanced immune responses against their cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-solid tumors or those whose cancer does not involve B cell responses may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of B cells, a type of immune cell, in fighting cancer. It aims to understand how these cells can be engineered to specifically target tumors and enhance the immune response against cancer. By using advanced genetic engineering techniques, the researchers hope to create tumor-specific B cells that can be expanded and used in therapies. This approach could lead to new treatments that harness the body's immune system to combat cancer more effectively.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative therapies that improve cancer treatment outcomes by utilizing the body's own immune cells.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in using engineered immune cells for cancer treatment, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Genovese, Pietro — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Genovese, Pietro
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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.