NIH-funded research R21 grant

Mapping immune cell types and their roles in tumors

Official title: Tumor subregion and immune cell type-selective proteomic profiling

Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11035810 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how immune cells work with cancer cells in tumors to find new ways to diagnose and treat cancer, which could help patients understand how their tumors react to different treatments.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Illinois at Chicago
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES)
Project startDecember 1, 2024
Project endNovember 30, 2026
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$212,367
NIH project number1R21CA297400-01
Project IDNIH-11035810 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are patients with various types of cancer who are undergoing treatment and have tumor samples available for analysis.

Less likely to help

Patients with early-stage cancers that do not require advanced therapeutic strategies may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates how immune cells interact with cancer cells within tumors, focusing on their specific locations and functions. By using advanced 3D microscopy and proteomic techniques, the study aims to create detailed profiles of immune cells in different tumor regions. This approach will help identify immune cell niches that could serve as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and targets for therapy. Patients may benefit from improved understanding of how their tumors respond to treatments based on these findings.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate cancer diagnoses and more effective therapies tailored to individual tumor environments.

How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using spatial proteomics to understand tumor microenvironments, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Illinois at Chicago
    Chicago, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Lee, Steve Seung-Young — University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Study coordinator: Lee, Steve Seung-Young

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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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.