Improving bone marrow transplants to better fight blood cancers
Official title: Targeting alloantigen presentation in bone marrow to enhance graft-versus-leukemia effects
Funded at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · NIH-10997362 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at ways to make bone marrow transplants work better for people with blood cancers by boosting the immune system's ability to fight cancer while reducing unwanted side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $205,700 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA286216-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10997362 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for blood cancers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing bone marrow transplantation or those with conditions unrelated to blood cancers may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how to enhance the effectiveness of bone marrow transplants in treating blood cancers by focusing on the immune response. It aims to improve the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effects while minimizing harmful side effects like graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The approach involves understanding the role of specific immune cells in presenting antigens that can help target cancer cells more effectively. By identifying and utilizing these antigen-presenting cells, the research seeks to reduce the risk of cancer relapse after transplantation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective bone marrow transplant procedures that significantly improve survival rates for patients with blood cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in enhancing immune responses in bone marrow transplants, suggesting that this approach could lead to significant advancements in treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koyama, Motoko — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Koyama, Motoko
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Investigating a specific type of leukemia in children caused by genetic changes.
This study is looking at how certain proteins linked to leukemia affect kids and teens with high-risk blood cancers, and the researchers hope to find new ways to treat these conditions by learning more about how the disease works.
-
Caregiver-led mobile tool to support healthy habits for kids treated for ALL
A caregiver-directed mobile program helps children who were treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia build healthier daily routines.
-
Targeting the SCP4 pathway in acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Aims to uncover how the SCP4 signaling pathway drives AML and how it could be blocked to help patients.
-
Understanding TCRs in Leukemia to Improve Immunotherapies
A short, patient-friendly look at a project trying to map how immune cells recognize leukemia so future therapies can be better and safer for people with AML.
-
Targeted therapy for AML using DHODH inhibitors to boost differentiation and immune response
Aims to help adults with acute myeloid leukemia by using a special drug approach that makes cancer cells act more like normal blood cells and supports the immune system.
-
Genomics of childhood ALL across global populations
A wide-ranging study looks at how inherited genetics influence the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia around the world.
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.