Improving pediatric CAR T therapy for infant and child ALL with targeted drugs
Official title: Leveraging small molecule inhibitors to improve CD19 CAR T cell immunotherapy for KMT2A-rearranged ALL
Funded at Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp · NIH-11360721 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A doctor-scientist is developing safer, more effective CAR T cell therapy for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia by adding small molecule inhibitors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Buffalo, United States) |
| Project start | July 17, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $196,110 |
| NIH project number | 5K08CA286765-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11360721 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who are potential CAR T therapy recipients or who have disease features that may benefit from combined targeted therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Some patients may not respond to CAR T therapy or tolerate the added inhibitors, so benefits may vary.
What this research studies
This project is geared toward young patients with a type of leukemia that affects B cells. It combines expert CAR T cell therapy with carefully chosen small molecule inhibitors to potentially boost treatment effectiveness while reducing side effects. Over five years, the researcher will gain hands-on training in CAR T biology, single-cell analysis, and early clinical trial design, working closely with experienced mentors at CHOP/Penn. The work happens in a pediatric cancer setting, with a focus on translating lab findings into patient care. The goal is to move promising approaches from bench to bedside to improve outcomes for children with high-risk leukemia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make CAR T therapy safer and more effective for children with high-risk leukemia.
How similar studies have gone: Results from related CAR T and targeted therapy studies in pediatric leukemia have shown promise, but this approach remains early-stage.
Where this research is happening
-
Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp
Buffalo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Niswander, Lisa Madalen — Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp
- Study coordinator: Niswander, Lisa Madalen
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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.