Investigating how T cells become exhausted in cancer

4DN Interrogation of T Cell Exhaustion in Cancer

NIH-funded research Stanford University · NIH-10914074

This study is looking at how T cells, which are important for fighting cancer, can become tired and less effective, especially in people with advanced skin cancer, to find ways to make immunotherapy work better for them and others with cancer.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionStanford University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Stanford, United States)
Project IDNIH-10914074 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms behind T cell exhaustion, which limits the effectiveness of immunotherapy in cancer treatment. By utilizing advanced genomic technologies, the study aims to analyze the three-dimensional organization of the genome in T cells from cancer patients. This approach will help identify the changes that lead to T cell exhaustion, particularly in patients with advanced skin cancer. The findings could provide insights into improving immunotherapy responses for various cancers.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients with advanced skin cancer or other cancers who are undergoing immunotherapy.

Not a fit: Patients with early-stage cancers or those not receiving immunotherapy may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to enhanced immunotherapy strategies that improve T cell function and cancer treatment outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promising results in understanding T cell dynamics in cancer, but this specific approach using 4D genomic technologies is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

Stanford, United States

Researchers

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 below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.