Improving how we find and use immune cells to fight cancer
Official title: Nano and biomolecular engineered technologies for neoantigen-specific T cell capture and characterization
Funded at Institute for Systems Biology · NIH-11121834 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research aims to develop better tools to find and understand special immune cells that can specifically target and kill cancer cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Institute for Systems Biology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 16, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $523,564 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA264090-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11121834 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancer who might benefit from advanced T-cell therapies, particularly those whose tumors have specific neoantigens, could ultimately benefit from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancers do not present neoantigens or who are not candidates for T-cell based immunotherapies may not directly benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
Our immune system has powerful cells called T cells that can recognize and destroy cancer. This project focuses on finding specific T cells that target unique markers on cancer cells, called neoantigens. We are developing new methods using tiny particles and biological tools to capture these special T cells from patient samples. The goal is to better understand how these T cells work and to find their unique "recipes" so we can potentially create more effective personalized cancer treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more precise and powerful personalized immunotherapies for various cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Similar approaches to identify and engineer T cells for cancer treatment have shown promise, with some already moving into clinical trials.
Where this research is happening
-
Institute for Systems Biology
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Heath, James R. — Institute for Systems Biology
- Study coordinator: Heath, James R.
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.