NIH-funded research Sbir 1 grant

Innovative delivery of DNA and RNA vaccines for melanoma treatment

Official title: Next Generation Gene-Gun Delivered DNA and RNA Immunotherapeutic Vaccines for Melanoma.

Funded at Orlance, INC. · NIH-10932954 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing a new way to deliver DNA and RNA vaccines directly into the skin to help your body fight melanoma, using a special device that makes it easy and painless, while also personalizing the treatment based on your unique tumor.

More Melanoma research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeSbir 1 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionOrlance, INC.
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Seattle, United States)
Project startSeptember 21, 2023
Project endAugust 31, 2025
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$200,000
NIH project number5R43CA281585-02
Project IDNIH-10932954 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with melanoma who may benefit from personalized cancer vaccines.

Less likely to help

Patients with non-melanoma skin cancers or those who do not have identifiable neoantigens may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing a next-generation Gene Gun that delivers DNA and RNA vaccines directly into skin cells to stimulate a strong immune response against melanoma. By sequencing tumors from individual patients, the study aims to identify personalized neoantigens that can be targeted with these vaccines. The Gene Gun technology allows for painless delivery of low doses of vaccines, which could lead to effective localized and systemic immune responses. This approach seeks to overcome limitations of current vaccine delivery methods, such as high doses and storage challenges.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new, effective treatment option for melanoma patients through personalized immunotherapy.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using similar gene delivery technologies for cancer treatment, indicating potential for success in this novel approach.

Where this research is happening

  • Orlance, INC.
    Seattle, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Frizzell, Hannah — Orlance, INC.
  • Study coordinator: Frizzell, Hannah

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.