How certain proteins affect immune T cells in fighting tumors
Official title: Ubiquitin ligase regulation of tissue-resident T cell and anti-tumor activity
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-10877814 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain immune cells, called CD8+ T cells, can become less effective at fighting tumors and aims to understand how a special type of these cells, known as tissue-resident memory T cells, can stay strong and help improve cancer treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $197,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI178362-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10877814 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients who have CD8+ T cells present in their tumors and are undergoing or considering immunotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-cancerous conditions or those whose tumors do not involve CD8+ T cell activity may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how CD8+ T cells, which are crucial for recognizing and eliminating tumor cells, can lose their effectiveness in the presence of tumors. It focuses on understanding the role of tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) in cancer, particularly how these cells can maintain their function and improve responses to immunotherapy. By comparing TRM from healthy tissues and exhausted T cells from tumors, the study aims to identify key genes that influence T cell function and survival in the tumor environment. This could lead to new strategies for enhancing anti-tumor immunity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved immunotherapy treatments for cancer patients by enhancing the effectiveness of their immune responses.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in enhancing T cell function through similar approaches, indicating potential for success in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goldrath, Ananda W — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Goldrath, Ananda W
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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.