Finding new treatments for lung cancer that address racial health disparities
Overcoming racial health disparities in lung cancer through innovative mechanism-based therapeutic strategies
This study is looking at new ways to make lung cancer treatments work better, especially for Black patients who seem to respond well to certain immune therapies, by examining how their tumors and immune cells behave.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11075289 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing innovative therapies to improve lung cancer treatment outcomes, particularly for Black patients who have shown better responses to certain immune therapies. The team at Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center is investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms that contribute to these disparities. By analyzing tumor samples and immune cell behavior, they aim to enhance the effectiveness of immune checkpoint blockade therapies and explore combination treatments that could lead to better patient responses. The research utilizes advanced techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing to identify specific immune cell characteristics in Black lung cancer patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are Black patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer who are seeking innovative treatment options.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have lung cancer or those who are not of Black race may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective lung cancer treatments tailored to address the unique needs of Black patients, potentially improving survival rates and quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in using immune checkpoint blockade therapies for lung cancer, particularly in diverse patient populations, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
Winston-Salem, United States
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences — Winston-Salem, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Wei — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Wei
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 below.