Finding new ways to improve cancer immunotherapy
Official title: Discovery of Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Cancer Immunotherapy
Funded at Yale University · NIH-10988986 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into why important immune cells called T-cells have trouble getting into tumors to fight cancer, and it hopes to find out more about a specific protein that might be blocking their way, which could help develop better treatments for cancer patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $50,474 |
| NIH project number | 1F99CA294168-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10988986 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients with tumors that exhibit low T-cell infiltration.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with tumors that do not have issues with T-cell infiltration may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates why T-cells, which are crucial for fighting cancer, often fail to infiltrate tumors. The team hypothesizes that certain proteins produced by tumors, known as T-cell excluders, prevent T-cells from entering and functioning effectively. By using advanced screening techniques, they aim to identify and understand these proteins, particularly focusing on a candidate called SLIT2, which has been shown to inhibit T-cell movement towards tumor signals. This could lead to new therapeutic strategies that enhance T-cell responses in cancer patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved cancer treatments by enhancing the ability of T-cells to attack tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in targeting T-cell migration in cancer therapy, suggesting that this approach could be a meaningful advancement.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Xuan — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Yang, Xuan
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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.