Improving CAR T cell therapy for solid tumors
Official title: Designing inducible chemotactic beacons for enhanced trafficking of CAR T cells to solid tumors
Funded at Seattle Children's Hospital · NIH-11064058 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at ways to make CAR T cell therapy work better for people with solid tumors by helping the immune cells find and attack the cancer more effectively, which could lead to improved treatment results for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $276,152 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA280726-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11064058 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would include patients with solid tumors who have not responded well to existing treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with hematologic malignancies, such as leukemia, may not benefit from this research as it specifically targets solid tumors.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the effectiveness of CAR T cell therapy, which is a promising treatment for certain cancers, by improving how these engineered immune cells reach and attack solid tumors. The approach involves designing special signals, or 'beacons', that can guide CAR T cells from the bloodstream to the tumor site, overcoming the challenges posed by the localized nature of solid tumors. By mobilizing resting memory-like CAR T cells that are currently not engaging with the tumor, the research aims to boost the immune response against cancer. Patients may benefit from a more effective treatment option that could lead to better outcomes in solid tumor cancers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective CAR T cell therapies for patients with solid tumors, potentially improving their chances of recovery.
How similar studies have gone: While CAR T cell therapy has shown success in treating blood cancers, this approach to enhancing its effectiveness for solid tumors is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sarkar, Surojit — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Sarkar, Surojit
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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.