Multi-directed super-adjuvant cancer vaccine Nano-therapy
Official title: Multi-directed prime-pull cancer immunotherapy using super-adjuvant nanoparticles
Funded at University of Massachusetts Amherst · NIH-11447033 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new cancer vaccine approach using tiny nanoparticles that carry two powerful adjuvants to boost the immune system’s attack on tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project start | June 26, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $416,468 |
| NIH project number | 1R37CA315256-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11447033 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Candidates would be patients with cancers where vaccine approaches are being explored and where tumor-targeted immune activation is relevant.
✕Less likely to help
Early-stage preclinical work may not yet translate to direct patient benefits.
What this research studies
This grant supports developing a dual-delivery, dual-adjuvant nanoparticle vaccine aimed at boosting T cell responses against cancer. The approach integrates two synergistic immune stimulants to mimic the complexity of whole-pathogen vaccines while targeting both the lymph nodes and the tumor site. The work combines elements of antigen targeting and adjuvant design to overcome the immunosuppressive tumor environment. The project is tested in preclinical models to optimize how well the vaccine activates immune cells and reaches the tumor. If successful, it could lay the groundwork for more effective cancer immunotherapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to more effective cancer vaccines that recruit the body’s own immune system to attack tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous multi-adjuvant vaccine strategies have shown enhanced immune responses in preclinical models, supporting continued development with careful safety evaluation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Hadley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Atukorale, Prabhani — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Atukorale, Prabhani
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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.