Exploring new ways to enhance immunotherapy for kidney cancer
Official title: Triggering Aberrant RNA Processing for RCC Therapy
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11054628 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at ways to make immunotherapy work better for people with kidney cancer by exploring certain parts of the tumor that could help boost the immune system's response to treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | March 12, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $618,056 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA290597-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11054628 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma, particularly those who have not responded well to current immunotherapy treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of cancer or those whose RCC is in a very advanced stage may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving immunotherapy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), a type of kidney cancer that is often resistant to treatment. The team is investigating the role of retained introns in tumors, which may help identify new tumor-associated antigens that can enhance the effectiveness of existing immunotherapies. By understanding how these introns affect the immune response, the researchers aim to develop strategies that could lead to better treatment outcomes for patients with RCC. The study involves analyzing tumor samples and their response to immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective immunotherapy options for patients with renal cell carcinoma.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in enhancing immunotherapy responses through novel approaches, but this specific focus on retained introns is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, William Y. — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Kim, William Y.
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.