Investigating how TLR9 agonism affects the ability of natural killer cells to kill cancer cells
Official title: Dissecting the Differential Impacts of Toll-like Receptor 9 Agonism on the Capacity of Human Natural Killer Cells to Mediate Target Cell Killing
Funded at University of Nebraska Omaha · NIH-10730451 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a special treatment can help your immune cells, called natural killer (NK) cells, become better at fighting cancer or infections, which could lead to better cancer treatments in the future.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Omaha NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project start | June 8, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $371,250 |
| NIH project number | 1R15AI178516-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10730451 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with cancers or infections that may benefit from enhanced immune responses.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have malignancies or infections may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how treatment with Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonists can enhance the ability of human natural killer (NK) cells to kill target cells, such as cancerous or infected cells. The study aims to explore the mechanisms behind this process, particularly how TLR9 agonism may influence the presence of CD16 on NK cells, which is crucial for their ability to mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). By employing techniques like flow cytometry and cytokine assays, the researchers will assess the effects of TLR9 agonism on NK cell function over time. This could provide insights into improving cancer therapies that rely on the immune system's ability to target and destroy malignant cells.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to enhanced cancer treatments that utilize the body's immune cells more effectively to target and kill cancer cells.
How similar studies have gone: While the concept of TLR9 agonism enhancing NK cell function is supported by literature, this specific investigation is novel and aims to provide direct evidence of these effects.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Nebraska Omaha
Omaha, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Denton, Paul W. — University of Nebraska Omaha
- Study coordinator: Denton, Paul W.
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.