Improving CAR T-cell therapy for solid tumors
Ameliorating off-target toxicities of CAR T cells by engineering NOT gates
This project aims to make CAR T-cell therapy safer and more effective for solid tumors by preventing harm to healthy tissues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11177775 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
CAR T-cell therapy has been very successful for blood cancers, but it's harder to use for solid tumors because it can accidentally attack healthy organs. Our goal is to create "smart" CAR T cells that can tell the difference between tumor cells and healthy cells. We are designing special "NOT gate" circuits within these T cells that will turn off their attack if they detect a signal from a healthy tissue, preventing unwanted side effects. This approach uses multiple signals to identify tumors more precisely and protect important organs like the brain and lungs.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with solid tumors who are considering CAR T-cell therapy, or those for whom current CAR T-cell options are too toxic, might eventually benefit from this research.
Not a fit: Patients with blood cancers that are already effectively treated by existing CAR T-cell therapies may not directly benefit from this specific advancement.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new, safer CAR T-cell treatments for a wider range of solid tumors, reducing severe side effects for patients.
How similar studies have performed: While CAR T-cell therapy has succeeded in blood cancers, developing robust "NOT gate" circuits for solid tumors to prevent off-target toxicity is a novel and largely untested approach.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lim, Wendell a — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Lim, Wendell a
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.