Melanoma vaccine built from tiny spherical nucleic acids
Official title: Innovative Research for Cancer Nanotechnology (IRCN) for Enhancing Melanoma-specific Immune Responses by the Rational Design of Spherical Nucleic Acids
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11600597 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new kind of cancer vaccine using tiny spherical nucleic acids to help the immune system fight advanced melanoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | March 14, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $343,886 |
| NIH project number | 7R01CA257926-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11600597 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with advanced melanoma who could benefit from cancer vaccines and immunotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with melanoma that do not respond to vaccines or trials may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This project at Northwestern University aims to design vaccines that present melanoma targets in a precise 3D arrangement to boost immune recognition. By using spherical nucleic acids with built-in adjuvants and a tumor-associated peptide, the approach seeks stronger and longer-lasting anti-melanoma immune responses. The work builds on existing clinical trials and focuses on how vaccine structure influences effectiveness in models and early human data. If successful, it could lead to more effective immunotherapies for patients with advanced melanoma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with advanced melanoma could receive more effective vaccines that enhance the body’s immune attack on tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that structured vaccine design can influence immune responses and tumor control, with ongoing early-phase trials supporting this concept.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mirkin, Chad a. — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Mirkin, Chad a.
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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.