NIH-funded research P01 program project

Finding ways to improve immune responses in head and neck cancers

Official title: Strategies to Overcome Immune Resistance in Head and Neck Cancers

Funded at Yale University · NIH-10690599 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at ways to improve immunotherapy for people with head and neck cancer, aiming to help more patients respond to treatment by figuring out why the immune system sometimes doesn't fight the cancer effectively.

Quick facts

Grant typeP01 program project
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionYale University
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New Haven, United States)
Project startSeptember 19, 2019
Project endAugust 31, 2025
Funding year2023
Award (this year)$1,411,624
NIH project number7P01CA240239-05
Project IDNIH-10690599 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who have limited treatment options.

Less likely to help

Patients with other types of cancers or those who do not have head and neck squamous cell carcinoma may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), a type of cancer that has limited treatment options. The project aims to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy, which has shown some success but only benefits a small number of patients. Researchers will investigate the reasons behind the immune system's failure to respond to tumors and develop new strategies to overcome these barriers. By understanding both the tumor's characteristics and the immune system's suppression, the goal is to create innovative treatment combinations that can help more patients respond positively to immunotherapy.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve treatment outcomes for patients with head and neck cancers by increasing the effectiveness of immunotherapy.

How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in enhancing immunotherapy responses in various cancers, suggesting that this approach could lead to meaningful advancements.

Where this research is happening

  • Yale University
    New Haven, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Pai, Sara Isabel — Yale University
  • Study coordinator: Pai, Sara Isabel

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.