Immunobiology and Immunotherapy for Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Official title: Immunobiology and Immune Therapy for Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11379947 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A team at the University of Washington is advancing how the immune system fights a rare skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma and testing new immune-based treatments to help patients who don’t respond to existing therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | April 4, 2019 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,841,993 |
| NIH project number | 5P01CA225517-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11379947 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with Merkel cell carcinoma, including those who have progressed on PD-1–pathway therapies or who need new immunotherapy approaches.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without MCC or those unable to participate in research activities such as sample donation or clinical follow-up.
What this research studies
This project builds on years of work studying how the immune system interacts with Merkel cell carcinoma and how PD-1–blocking therapies help some patients. It aims to understand why some tumors resist treatment and to develop new immune-based approaches that can overcome resistance. The team uses unique tools to analyze T and B cell responses to the cancer’s virus (MCPyV) and leverages a large repository of patient samples and data to guide therapeutic strategies. By combining translational science with clinical insights, the program hopes to expand effective options for MCC patients, including those who have failed current immunotherapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with MCC may have more effective treatment options and better chances of long-term control of their cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown meaningful responses to PD-1 blockade in MCC, but resistance remains a challenge and new approaches are needed.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nghiem, Paul — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Nghiem, Paul
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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New therapies for Merkel cell carcinoma and its immune environment
A cancer grant is testing a drug that may boost immune therapies and help patients with Merkel cell carcinoma who don’t respond to current treatments.
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Understanding how Merkel cell skin cancer develops
This research explores how a specific virus causes Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive skin cancer.
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New treatments for Merkel cell carcinoma
This research looks for new ways to treat Merkel cell carcinoma, a serious skin cancer, especially for patients who don't respond to current therapies.
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Immune therapies for Merkel cell carcinoma
This project develops and tests new immune-based treatments to help people with Merkel cell carcinoma, especially those whose cancers no longer respond to PD‑1 drugs.
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Investigating a new treatment for Merkel cell carcinoma
This study is looking at a type of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma, especially in older Veterans, to see how a specific protein affects the cancer and to test a new treatment that could help those who can't use current therapies.
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Understanding why some patients with Merkel cell carcinoma resist immunotherapy
This study is looking into why some people with Merkel cell carcinoma, a tough type of skin cancer, don’t respond well to immunotherapy, and it hopes to find clues that could help improve treatment for those patients.
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.