Identifying a new blood biomarker for cancer treatment resistance
Official title: Understanding Immunotype, a Novel Biomarker for Checkpoint Blockade Resistance
Funded at University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt · NIH-10885161 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new blood test that might help doctors figure out if certain cancer treatments will work for patients, so they can avoid unnecessary side effects if the treatments aren’t likely to help.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Farmington, United States) |
| Project start | July 10, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $552,595 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA276286-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10885161 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients eligible for immune checkpoint blockade therapies who are seeking to understand their likelihood of benefiting from such treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancers are not eligible for immune checkpoint blockade therapies may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new blood biomarker called Immunotype-1 (IT-1) that may help identify patients whose tumors are resistant to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies, such as α-PD-1 and α-CTLA-4 antibodies. By analyzing immune cells in the blood of patients treated with ICB, researchers aim to determine if the presence of specific immune profiles can predict treatment outcomes. This could help avoid unnecessary treatments and associated side effects for patients whose cancers are unlikely to respond to ICB. The study utilizes a large biobank of blood samples from over 600 patients to validate the effectiveness of this biomarker across different cancer types.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more personalized cancer treatment strategies, allowing patients to avoid ineffective therapies and seek more suitable options.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in identifying biomarkers for treatment resistance, making this approach both innovative and building on existing knowledge.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt
Farmington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Callahan, Margaret Kathleen — University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt
- Study coordinator: Callahan, Margaret Kathleen
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.