Investigating how tiny forces from immune cells affect cancer treatment
Official title: Measuring and Programming Piconewton Receptor Forces for Synthetic Mechanobiology
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11020815 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how immune cells called T cells move and push against cancer cells and nearby tissues, using special tools to see these tiny forces, with the hope of finding better ways to help your body fight cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $372,100 |
| NIH project number | 1R35GM157007-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11020815 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals undergoing treatment for cancer who may benefit from enhanced immunotherapy approaches.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-cancerous conditions or those not receiving immunotherapy may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the mechanical forces that immune cells, particularly T cells, exert at a microscopic level. By developing innovative technologies to visualize these forces, the study aims to explore how T cells interact with cancer cells and the surrounding tissue. The researchers will measure these forces in materials that mimic the body's tissues, which could lead to new insights into how to enhance the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy. Patients may benefit from improved treatments that better harness the body's immune response against cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective cancer immunotherapies by optimizing how immune cells interact with tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding cellular forces in cancer treatment, indicating that this approach could lead to significant advancements.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brockman, Joshua Mark — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Brockman, Joshua Mark
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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.