Improving CAR T-cell therapy for pediatric B-ALL
Official title: Improving CAR T-cell therapy for Pediatric B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL)
Funded at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital · NIH-11386624 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A physician-scientist at St. Jude aims to advance CAR T-cell therapy for children with high-risk B-ALL by testing new donor-derived and enhanced autologous CAR T-cell approaches in early-phase trials.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $289,458 |
| NIH project number | 5K08CA279927-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11386624 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pediatric patients with high-risk B-ALL who are candidates for CAR T-cell therapy or related cellular therapies at participating centers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients unsuitable for CAR T-cell therapy or those not eligible for the specific trials may not benefit.
What this research studies
This K08 grant supports a clinician-scientist to develop independent research in cellular therapies for children with high-risk leukemia. The plan includes hands-on clinical research, mentorship, and coursework to build expertise in novel CD19-CAR T-cell strategies, including allogeneic products and enhanced autologous approaches. A Phase I study (MEMCAR19) will evaluate donor memory T-cell–based CD19-CAR T cells to reduce graft-versus-host risk, with deep correlative studies to understand CAR T-cell biology. Additional aims propose a second trial targeting CD19 and CD22 with epigenetic tweaks to sustain remission. The overall goal is to translate improved CAR T-cell designs into better, longer-lasting responses for pediatric patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to safer, more effective CAR T-cell therapies that improve cure rates and long-term outcomes for children with high-risk B-ALL.
How similar studies have gone: Early CAR T-cell approaches have shown promise, and ongoing studies are exploring allogeneic and dual-target strategies; this project builds on that momentum with a structured mentorship plan.
Where this research is happening
-
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Memphis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Talleur, Aimee C. — St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Study coordinator: Talleur, Aimee C.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving CAR T-cell therapy for children with leukemia
This study is looking at a new kind of CAR T-cell therapy for kids with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL) to see if using special donor cells can make the treatment safer and more effective, while also helping the cells stay in the body longer to keep the cancer from coming back.
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Blocking fatty acid uptake to help CAR-T work better for relapsed B‑cell ALL
This research looks at whether stopping leukemia cells from taking up fatty acids can help CD19 CAR‑T therapy work better for children and young adults with relapsed B‑cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
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Improving CAR-T cell therapy for children with relapsed B-cell leukemia
This study is looking at how blocking certain fatty acids might make CAR-T cell therapy work better for kids and young adults with relapsed B-cell leukemia, especially those with specific gene changes, to help them get better when other treatments haven't worked.
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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.
-
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.
-
Genomics of childhood ALL across diverse populations
A large international study will look at why children everywhere get acute lymphoblastic leukemia and how genetics may influence risk.
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.