Helping the thymus heal after strong cancer treatments
Official title: Understanding the role of the blood vascular system and endothelial cells in early thymus regeneration after cytotoxic treatments using novel intravital imaging techniques
Funded at University of California, Merced · NIH-11162482 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how blood vessels in the thymus help it recover after intensive cancer treatments, like those used before a stem cell transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, Merced NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Merced, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $713,940 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL171971-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11162482 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research may eventually benefit patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation for blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, or myelodysplastic syndromes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing cytotoxic treatments that damage the thymus, or those without blood cancers, would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Strong cancer treatments for blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma can damage the thymus, an important organ for a healthy immune system. This damage can lead to serious health problems and slow down recovery. Our goal is to understand how the thymus heals itself after these treatments, focusing on the crucial role of blood vessels and their specialized cells. We will use advanced imaging techniques to observe the thymus's recovery in real-time. By uncovering these healing mechanisms, we hope to find new ways to help patients' immune systems bounce back faster and stronger.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that help the immune system recover more quickly and effectively after intensive cancer therapies.
How similar studies have gone: This work builds on existing knowledge about thymus regeneration and uses new imaging techniques to explore how blood vessels contribute to healing.
Where this research is happening
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University of California, Merced
Merced, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Spencer, Joel a. — University of California, Merced
- Study coordinator: Spencer, Joel a.
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.