Innovative mRNA vaccines to boost T-cell therapy for solid tumors
Official title: Innovative mRNA vaccines to enhance the efficacy of T-cell transfer therapies against solid tumors
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11374934 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at UCLA will explore new mRNA vaccines designed to enhance how T cells attack solid tumors like pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,842,371 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA283736-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374934 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with pancreatic cancer or other solid tumors where T-cell therapies are considered, and where participation could align with future vaccine trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not eligible for or not benefiting from T-cell therapies may not experience direct gains from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers will develop mRNA vaccines that encode tumor-related antigens, including mesothelin and mutant KRAS, and test them in animal and PDAC models to optimize antigen and adjuvant features. The work aims to identify priming and boosting strategies that maximize T cell responses while minimizing side effects. By using models that mimic human tumors, the team hopes to predict how these vaccines could improve T-cell transfer therapies for patients with pancreatic cancer and other solid tumors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve the effectiveness of T-cell therapies for solid tumors and lead to new vaccine-based strategies for cancer treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Previous mRNA vaccine strategies informed by viral vaccines offer a foundation, but applying them to cancer immunotherapy is still exploratory and may yield variable results.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Radu, Caius Gabriel — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Radu, Caius Gabriel
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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.