Investigating new ways to activate the STING protein for cancer therapy
Official title: Novel endogenous and engineered activators of STING: from mechanisms to cancer therapy
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11103077 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring new ways to boost the STING protein in your immune system to help fight cancer more effectively, using a special delivery method that targets cancer cells while protecting healthy ones, with the hope of creating better treatments that work well and have fewer side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | April 3, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $642,739 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA299257-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11103077 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with various types of cancer who may benefit from enhanced immunotherapy approaches.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-cancerous conditions or those who do not respond to immunotherapy may not receive benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on the STING protein, which plays a crucial role in the body's immune response to cancer. The team aims to understand how to better activate STING using novel methods, including a special polymer that can deliver STING activators directly to cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. By studying the mechanisms of this activation and testing it in animal models, the researchers hope to develop more effective cancer treatments that enhance the immune response against tumors. The ultimate goal is to create therapies that provide strong anti-tumor effects with fewer side effects for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective cancer therapies that harness the body's immune system to fight tumors with reduced side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using STING agonists for cancer therapy, but this approach aims to overcome limitations seen in earlier clinical trials.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bai, Xiaochen — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Bai, Xiaochen
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.