Inherited genes that affect immune side effects from cancer immunotherapy
Official title: Assessment of germline variants associated with immune-related adverse events following immune checkpoint inhibitors
Funded at Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · NIH-11193785 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for inherited genetic differences that help explain why some people get serious immune side effects from checkpoint inhibitor cancer treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $668,053 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA293091-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11193785 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people who have received or plan to receive immune checkpoint inhibitors for cancer and who can provide a DNA sample or consent to share their clinical treatment and outcome data.
✕Less likely to help
People who never receive checkpoint inhibitors or who cannot or will not provide genetic samples or access to relevant medical records are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
If you join, your genetic data and medical records will be combined with those of over 13,000 people who received immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy to search for inherited variants linked to immune-related side effects. The team will run genome-wide scans using advanced imputation and models that account for timing of side effects to find genetic signals and compare different types of toxicities. They will also examine how inherited variants interact with tumor changes and treatment type to understand links between side effects and treatment benefit. Much of the work uses existing samples and clinical records, so participation may involve donating a DNA sample or agreeing to let researchers access your health data.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help predict who is at higher risk for dangerous immune side effects so doctors can personalize monitoring and treatment choices.
How similar studies have gone: Previous smaller studies have found links between some inherited variants and immune-related side effects, but this much larger, pan-cancer genetic study aims to provide more definitive and comprehensive results.
Where this research is happening
-
Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Choueiri, Toni — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Choueiri, Toni
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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.