Exploring immune responses in dogs and humans with bladder cancer

Advancing immunotherapy through cross species studies of immune cell responses and immune checkpoint inhibitor effects in dogs and humans with invasive urinary bladder cancer

NIH-funded research Purdue University · NIH-10926920

This study is looking at how a type of cancer treatment called immune checkpoint inhibitors works for both dogs and humans with bladder cancer, hoping to find ways to make the treatment better for everyone.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionPurdue University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (West Lafayette, United States)
Project IDNIH-10926920 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) affect dogs and humans suffering from invasive urinary bladder cancer. By studying dogs with naturally-occurring bladder cancer, which closely resembles the human condition, the research aims to identify similarities and differences in immune cell responses and treatment outcomes. The findings could help improve the effectiveness of ICIs for human patients by using canine models to better predict responses and adverse effects. The study will involve comparing immune responses and treatment effects between dogs and humans to enhance our understanding of ICI therapy.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with invasive urinary bladder cancer who may benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies.

Not a fit: Patients with bladder cancer who are not eligible for immune checkpoint inhibitors or have other unrelated health conditions may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment outcomes for patients with invasive urinary bladder cancer through better-targeted immunotherapy.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in using animal models to improve human cancer therapies, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

West Lafayette, United States

Researchers

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 below.
Conditions Advanced CancerAnimal Cancer ModelBladder Cancer
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.