Modulating the tumor environment to improve nanoparticle delivery to cancer
Official title: Modulating the tumor microenvironment to enhance nanoparticle delivery
Funded at Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research · NIH-11446529 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A cancer-focused grant tests a method to make nanoparticles work better by altering the tumor surroundings to help medicines reach tumor cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 25, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $699,794 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA298818-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11446529 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals with cancers where nanoparticle therapies are being explored and who meet typical study criteria (e.g., specific cancer type and health status).
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers not applicable to nanoparticle therapies or with contraindicating conditions may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to overcome a key barrier in nanoparticle cancer therapies: most nanoparticles don’t reach tumor cells because they’re cleared by immune cells and blocked by the tumor environment. Researchers propose a strategy that temporarily quiets certain immune cells, widens tumor blood vessels, and re-educates immune cells to support tumor targeting. The work involves testing these ideas in cancer models to see if more nanoparticles reach tumors and stay there longer. If successful, this approach could improve the effectiveness of nanoparticle-based treatments for cancer patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from more effective nanoparticle-based cancer therapies with better delivery to tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Similar strategies have shown potential in preclinical models, but clinical success remains limited and requires further validation.
Where this research is happening
-
Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Grimm, Jan — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: Grimm, Jan
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.