Immunologic and Antigenic Drivers of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor–Associated Heart Inflammation
Official title: Immunologic and Antigenic Drivers of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Associated Myocarditis
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11388127 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A doctor-scientist team is studying why cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint drugs sometimes develop dangerous heart inflammation and what immune targets cause it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2021 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $849,674 |
| NIH project number | 2R01HL156021-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11388127 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors who develop or are at risk of myocarditis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors or without myocarditis risk are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project looks at why immune checkpoint inhibitors, a mainstay of cancer therapy, can trigger myocarditis by examining the immune cells and the antigens they recognize. Using a combination of laboratory models and human tissue samples, the study aims to identify the specific triggers that cause heart inflammation in a subset of patients receiving these medicines. The team has already found that certain heart proteins may be targeted by T cells and plans to test these ideas further to understand disease mechanisms and identify potential intervention points. The work builds on prior discoveries and seeks to translate findings into safer cancer treatments and better management of this serious side effect.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding the drivers of ICI-associated myocarditis could lead to safer cancer immunotherapies and earlier detection or treatment of heart inflammation in patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has established a role for cytotoxic T cells and alpha-myosin antigens in ICI-associated myocarditis, supporting a plausible path forward.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Balko, Justin M — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Balko, Justin M
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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.