Improving CAR T-cell therapy for acute myeloid leukemia
NOT-gated CAR T cells to overcome on-target, off-tumor toxicity in AML
This project aims to develop a safer type of CAR T-cell therapy for people with acute myeloid leukemia by protecting healthy cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11098497 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a serious blood cancer, and while CAR T-cell therapy shows promise, it can sometimes harm healthy tissues because leukemia cells share features with normal cells. This project is working to create a new, smarter version of CAR T-cell therapy that can tell the difference between cancer cells and healthy cells. Researchers are designing special CAR T cells with a built-in 'off switch' that stops them from attacking healthy tissues. The goal is to find the best way to build these 'off switches' and understand how they work to make the therapy effective against AML without causing severe side effects.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is focused on patients with acute myeloid leukemia who might benefit from advanced immunotherapy approaches.
Not a fit: Patients whose leukemia does not express the specific targets being studied, or those who cannot tolerate intensive therapies, may not directly benefit from this particular approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a new, safer CAR T-cell therapy that significantly improves treatment options and survival rates for patients with acute myeloid leukemia.
How similar studies have performed: CAR T-cell therapy has shown significant success in other blood cancers, but applying it safely to AML, where targets are shared with healthy cells, is a novel and challenging area.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Richards, Rebecca Margaret — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Richards, Rebecca Margaret
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 below.