How CRISPR-based gene activation could shape immunotherapy responses in clear cell cancers
Official title: Systems analysis of mechanisms driving response to immunotherapy in clear cell cancers
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11583129 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project at Stanford is using CRISPR-based gene activation to understand why some clear cell ovarian and kidney cancers respond to immunotherapy while others do not.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 13, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $155,600 |
| NIH project number | 3U01CA264611-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11583129 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with clear cell ovarian or clear cell renal cell cancer who are treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors may benefit from the findings.
✕Less likely to help
Some patients may not experience a response to immunotherapy, and this research may not immediately translate into a proven therapy for them.
What this research studies
This project builds on an existing cancer systems biology effort to map the tumor microenvironment in clear cell cancers using single-cell and spatial profiling. Researchers will apply a CRISPR-based screening approach to identify tumor factors that influence innate immune activity and response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. The goal is to model and validate the drivers of treatment response and prioritize candidate factors for further study in relevant cancer models. The work leverages patient-relevant tumor models to uncover mechanisms that could explain why therapies benefit only a subset of patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets to enhance immunotherapy responses for patients with clear cell ovarian and renal cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies using CRISPR-based screens have shown promise in identifying genes that influence immune responses in cancer, supporting the potential of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gentles, Andrew J. — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Gentles, Andrew J.
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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.