Harnessing myeloid sensors to boost anti-tumor immunity in melanoma
Official title: Harnessing Myeloid Olfactory Receptors to Reprogram Tumor Immunity
Funded at Augusta University · NIH-11394161 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach aims to reprogram immune cells in melanoma to support stronger anti-tumor responses in patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Augusta University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Augusta, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $731,500 |
| NIH project number | 1DP2CA325350-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394161 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with melanoma, particularly those who may benefit from enhanced immune responses or novel therapies targeting myeloid cell sensing.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with melanoma who do not respond to immunotherapies or whose tumors do not rely on these pathways may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project studies how white blood cells called monocytes and macrophages sense tumor signals and how this affects tumor growth and immune attack in melanoma. It focuses on olfactory receptors in these cells and how activating or blocking them changes inflammation and CD8 T cell presence in tumors. By using a melanoma model and human data, the work seeks to map pathways that could be targeted to improve existing immunotherapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new ways to boost patient responses to melanoma immunotherapy by reprogramming myeloid cells.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest that myeloid cell receptors influence anti-tumor immunity and that targeting similar pathways can alter T cell responses in melanoma models.
Where this research is happening
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Augusta University
Augusta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Orecchioni, Marco — Augusta University
- Study coordinator: Orecchioni, Marco
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.