Improving T cell therapy to better fight cancer
Official title: Epigenetic Programming of T Cells for Enhanced Cellular Immunotherapy
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11084456 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring new ways to make cancer-fighting T cells work better by tweaking their genes, so they can stay strong and effective longer, helping patients get more personalized and powerful treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | May 3, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $579,428 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA289574-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11084456 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients who are considering or currently undergoing adoptive T cell therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-cancerous conditions or those who do not qualify for T cell therapies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the effectiveness of adoptive T cell therapy (ACT) for cancer treatment by addressing the challenges of T cell exhaustion and the loss of stem cell memory T cells. The team aims to use epigenetic programming to modify T cells, improving their ability to attack cancer cells. By identifying and manipulating specific genes and epigenetic profiles, the research seeks to develop next-generation ACT that can provide more personalized and effective cancer therapies for patients. The approach involves a multidisciplinary team working on advanced technologies to optimize T cell function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective cancer treatments that harness the immune system to better target and eliminate cancer cells.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in enhancing T cell therapies through various approaches, making this a potentially impactful continuation of those efforts.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gersbach, Charles a. — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Gersbach, Charles a.
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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.