Improving CAR T cell therapy for cancer treatment
Official title: Label-free imaging of CAR T cell metabolism
Funded at Morgridge Institute for Research, INC. · NIH-10895431 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking to make CAR T cell therapies better for cancer patients by using new technology to understand how T cells work, so we can find out which patients will benefit the most and improve the treatment for everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Morgridge Institute for Research, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $615,789 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA278051-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10895431 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with B-cell lymphomas who are considering or undergoing CAR T cell therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers other than B-cell lymphomas or those who are not eligible for CAR T cell therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to enhance the effectiveness of CAR T cell therapies, which are a promising treatment for certain cancers. The team will develop non-invasive technologies to analyze T cell metabolism at a single-cell level, helping to identify which patients' T cells are suitable for therapy and how to optimize their production. By focusing on improving the quality of T cells used in treatment, the research seeks to overcome current limitations that prevent long-lasting remissions in many patients. The ultimate goal is to ensure that CAR T cell therapies are more potent and effective for cancer patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective CAR T cell therapies, resulting in longer-lasting remissions for cancer patients.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in enhancing CAR T cell therapies, but this approach of using non-invasive single-cell technologies is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Morgridge Institute for Research, INC.
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Skala, Melissa Caroline — Morgridge Institute for Research, INC.
- Study coordinator: Skala, Melissa Caroline
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Acanthamoeba as a modern model parasite to study infectious disease biology and mitochondria
A five-year project will define the mitochondrial proteins and pathways of Acanthamoeba castellanii to advance infectious disease biology and parasite metabolism.
-
Label-free optical imaging to quickly predict treatment response in patient tumor organoids
This project uses fast, label-free optical imaging on tiny, patient-grown tumor organoids to show which cancer treatments are most likely to work.
-
Non-invasive single-cell insights to make CAR T cells work better
A grant to develop non-invasive single-cell tools to identify and improve potent CAR T cell therapies for cancer patients.
-
Metabolic changes linked to reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in cardiovascular health
A study aims to understand how immune and blood vessel cells switch their metabolism to produce reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, which play roles in inflammation and heart health.
-
Using zebrafish to find ways to repair the injured heart
Scientists are studying how zebrafish regrow heart muscle to uncover signals that might help adults recover heart function after a heart attack.
-
How zebrafish repair spinal cord injuries
Researchers are using zebrafish to learn how spinal cord injuries can be healed, with the goal of helping people who have paralysis from such injuries.
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.