Improving immune responses to fight cancer
Official title: Precision Engineering of STING-DC Immunity to Overcome Tumor Immune Evasion
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-10982765 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new treatment that helps your immune system fight cancer by using tiny particles that only activate in tumors, aiming to make the therapy safer and more effective for people with hard-to-treat cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $984,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R35CA294010-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10982765 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with immune-resistant cancers who have not responded well to existing therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage cancers that are easily treatable with standard therapies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the body's immune response to cancer by engineering a new type of treatment that targets a specific protein called STING. The approach involves creating nanoparticles that activate the immune system only in the presence of certain conditions found in tumors, which helps to minimize damage to healthy tissues. By using advanced techniques in nanotechnology, the researchers aim to develop a safer and more effective therapy for patients with cancers that resist current treatments. The study will explore how these engineered therapies can better stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective cancer treatments that specifically target tumors while sparing healthy tissues.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been promising preclinical studies using STING agonists, early clinical trials have not yet demonstrated significant success, making this approach both innovative and necessary.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gao, Jinming — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Gao, Jinming
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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.