Helping anti-PD-1 immunotherapy work for more people with cancer
Overcoming resistance to anti-PD1 immunotherapy
Develops new ways to help people whose cancers do not respond to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy so more patients can benefit from these drugs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11184292 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work looks at why some tumors resist anti-PD-1 checkpoint drugs and tests several strategies to overcome that resistance. Researchers are exploring new immune checkpoints on T cells, ways to stimulate innate immunity to bring T cells into tumors, tumor cell genes that block immune attack, the influence of gut bacteria, and inherited genetic differences that affect responses. The team uses patient tumor samples, lab experiments, animal models, and analysis of clinical data to find targets and combinations that could be turned into treatments. The ultimate aim is to create therapies or combinations that let more patients respond to checkpoint immunotherapy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers treated or potentially treatable with anti-PD-1 drugs—especially patients whose tumors did not respond or who relapsed after initial benefit—are most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients with cancers that are not managed by immune-based therapies or those who cannot enroll in related clinical studies may not see direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new treatments or drug combinations that make anti-PD-1 immunotherapy effective for a larger group of cancer patients.
How similar studies have performed: Anti-PD-1 drugs already help many patients and some combination approaches have improved outcomes, but several specific strategies here (like certain tumor-intrinsic targets and microbiome links) are relatively new and still being tested.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- University of Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gajewski, Thomas F — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Gajewski, Thomas F
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.