Helping CAR‑T cells stay active inside suppressive tumors
Official title: PyroTIMER Technology: Enabling T-Cell Persistence in Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironments
Funded at Pyrojas INC · NIH-11195668 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project develops a new type of CAR‑T cell, called PyroTIMER, designed to resist tumor signals that wear out immune cells so people with B‑cell lymphoma might get stronger, longer‑lasting cell therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pyrojas INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Long Island City, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 23, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $999,283 |
| NIH project number | 5R44CA295355-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11195668 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with relapsed or refractory B‑cell lymphomas who are potential CAR‑T candidates would be the most likely future candidates for trials based on this work.
✕Less likely to help
People with cancers that are not B‑cell lymphomas or those needing immediate treatment should not expect direct benefit from this preclinical project right now.
What this research studies
Researchers are engineering PyroTIMER CAR‑T cells to durably block TGF‑β, a chemical in tumors that causes T cells to become exhausted. They will test these cells in mice and in patient‑derived tumor grafts to see whether the cells persist longer and kill lymphoma cells more effectively. The team will measure immune activity and safety using blood and tumor testing, flow cytometry, and cytokine profiling, and will watch for signs like cytokine release syndrome or T cell exhaustion. Successful lab and animal results would support moving this approach toward human clinical trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make CAR‑T treatments work longer and better against B‑cell lymphomas that currently resist therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Prior attempts to block TGF‑β have shown promise in preclinical models but were often transient, and durable genetic timing approaches like PyroTIMER are novel and largely untested in humans.
Where this research is happening
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Pyrojas INC
Long Island City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bagati, Archis — Pyrojas INC
- Study coordinator: Bagati, Archis
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving T-Cell Function in Cancer Treatment
This study is testing a new type of CAR-T cell therapy called PyroTIMER CAR-T cells to help cancer patients by making the treatment work better against tumors that can weaken the immune system, with the hope of improving how well patients respond to the therapy.
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.