Host immune activation after targeted antibody therapy in autoimmune disease models
Official title: Host-intrinsic mechanisms regulating endogenous immune activation after targeted immunotherapy
Funded at Wayne State University · NIH-11462246 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how a patient’s own immune system responds to targeted antibody therapy, aiming to reveal factors that boost beneficial anti-tumor-like immunity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wayne State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Detroit, United States) |
| Project start | July 9, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $620,762 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA318354-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11462246 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
If translated to humans, patients with cancers expressing HER2 or similar targets who are candidates for antibody-based therapy could benefit from optimized treatment approaches.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not express the target or who have immune responses that do not depend on the identified pathways may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will use mouse models that mimic human responses to anti-HER2-like antibodies to understand why some individuals develop strong endogenous immune activation after such therapies. They will cross BALB/c mice with a genetically diverse strain to create varied genetic backgrounds, then treat with a monoclonal antibody against a HER2-like target to observe tumor control and immune responses. The project examines how genetic differences influence antigen processing and immune cell engagement, with analyses at the cellular and genetic level to identify key pathways. Findings could point to patient-specific factors that predict who benefits most from targeted immunotherapies and guide future translational studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding genetic and immune factors could lead to personalized strategies that enhance lasting responses to targeted immunotherapies in patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that antibody therapies can engage innate immunity and generate protective anti-tumor responses in certain genetic backgrounds; this study builds on those findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Wayne State University
Detroit, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gibson, Heather Marie — Wayne State University
- Study coordinator: Gibson, Heather Marie
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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.