Helping immune T cells recognize cancer
MATCHMAKERS - Solving T-cell receptor recognition and design via integrated high-throughput screening and structural, functional and computational approaches
This project combines lab experiments and advanced AI to learn how T cells see tumor proteins so cancer treatments can be made more precise for people with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11514458 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I participate, researchers will gather large numbers of matched T-cell receptors and the tumor proteins they bind from human samples and model systems. They will also create synthetic TCR–pMHC pairs and run very high-throughput lab tests and structural studies to see how binding works. Those laboratory data will be combined with machine learning to build models that predict which TCRs recognize which tumor antigens and to design better receptors. Over time this could guide development of safer, more targeted T-cell therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancer who are candidates for T-cell–based immunotherapy or who can donate blood or tumor samples for research are the most relevant participants.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers lack identifiable targetable antigens, who cannot provide samples, or who need immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to gain direct short-term benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could enable safer, more effective personalized T-cell therapies that target a patient's tumor more precisely.
How similar studies have performed: Some T-cell therapies and early AI prediction tools have shown promise, but creating broadly accurate, general predictors of TCR–antigen recognition remains largely novel and unproven.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bruno, Peter Michael — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Bruno, Peter Michael
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.