Investigating how specific B cells respond to cancer-related sugars in a mouse model
Official title: A BCR transgenic mouse model to study glycan-specific B cells
Funded at Wake Forest University Health Sciences · NIH-11044363 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how special immune cells called B cells can help fight cancer by making antibodies, and it aims to find ways to boost their ability to protect against tumors, which could lead to better treatments for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $169,329 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA297692-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11044363 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research would include individuals with cancers expressing tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers that do not express tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how certain B cells, which produce antibodies against tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens (TACAs), respond to cancer cells. By using a specially designed mouse model, researchers aim to explore the mechanisms that enable these B cells to contribute to anti-tumor immunity. The study will assess how these B cells can be stimulated to enhance their effectiveness in fighting cancer, potentially leading to new therapeutic strategies. Patients may benefit from insights gained about how to improve immune responses against tumors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that enhance the body's immune response to cancer by utilizing specific B cells.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in utilizing B cells for anti-tumor therapies, but this specific approach using TACAs is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Haas, Karen M — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Haas, Karen M
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.