How mutant STAT6 affects follicular lymphoma
Official title: The Biology of Mutant STAT6 in Follicular Lymphoma
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11169832 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how a gene change called STAT6 affects follicular lymphoma to help find better treatments for people with this cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $713,700 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA260677-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11169832 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with follicular lymphoma—especially those whose tumor testing shows a STAT6 mutation or who have relapsed after standard therapies—would be the most relevant candidates for related future trials or sample donation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other lymphoma types that lack STAT6 mutations or those seeking immediate therapeutic benefit may not directly benefit from this lab-focused research.
What this research studies
Researchers at the University of Michigan will study how mutations in the STAT6 gene change the behavior of follicular lymphoma cells. They will analyze patient tumor samples and use genomic tools such as DNA/RNA sequencing and ATAC‑seq to see how STAT6 alters gene activity and chromatin accessibility. Lab-grown lymphoma cells and animal models will be used to test how STAT6-mutant tumors respond to different drugs and to identify possible drug targets. The team will relate the laboratory findings to clinical data to better understand which patients might benefit from STAT6-directed approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new drug targets or biomarkers that lead to more effective, targeted treatments for people with follicular lymphoma.
How similar studies have gone: Genetic and pathway studies have led to successful targeted treatments in other lymphomas, but directly targeting STAT6 in follicular lymphoma is a relatively new and emerging area.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Malek, Sami Nimer — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Malek, Sami Nimer
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Preventing follicular lymphoma progression with precision therapy
This grant tests a targeted approach to stop follicular lymphoma from getting worse or turning into a more aggressive cancer.
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Follicular Lymphoma: Better Diagnosis and Personalized Risk in B-Cell Lymphomas
This NIH grant aims to improve how doctors diagnose and predict outcomes for people with follicular lymphoma by finding reliable biomarkers to guide treatment decisions.
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IRF4's role in shaping the tumor environment in follicular lymphoma
This grant aims to understand how a molecule called IRF4 changes the tumor surroundings in follicular lymphoma to identify potential new ways to help patients.
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Gene test to predict early treatment failure in follicular lymphoma
A lab test that reads genes in lymphoma biopsy tissue to spot people with follicular lymphoma who are likely to have their disease return within two years after standard immunochemotherapy.
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Preventing the progression of follicular lymphoma with targeted therapy
This study is looking at how slow-growing follicular lymphomas can change into more aggressive forms, and it's working to find personalized treatments that target the specific factors that help these tumors survive, so we can help patients live better and longer.
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Developing a test to predict early treatment failure in follicular lymphoma
This study is looking to help doctors better predict which patients with follicular lymphoma might not respond well to standard treatment, using a special test on tissue samples to find important genetic clues, so they can create more personalized treatment plans for you.
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.