Nanoparticles to help the immune system target pancreatic cancer
Targeted nanotechnology for the pancreatic tumor immune microenvironment
This project builds tiny, targeted drug carriers to deliver therapies into pancreatic and other hard-to-treat tumors to help the immune system attack them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11179117 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
They are designing two complementary nanoparticle platforms — a silica-based carrier and a polymer-based carrier — to carry drugs and genetic material into tumors. The team will optimize how the particles find tumors, release their payloads, and change the tumor microenvironment so immune cells can work better. Experiments will focus on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and other solid tumors like colorectal cancer and melanoma using laboratory and preclinical models. The aim is a platform that could be used for localized or metastatic cancers to reprogram tumors in place.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or other solid tumors such as colorectal cancer or melanoma would be the most likely candidates for related future trials.
Not a fit: Patients with non-solid blood cancers or tumors that lack the specific molecular targets used by these nanoparticles may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could produce new therapies that deliver treatments directly into tumors and boost immune attack, potentially improving outcomes for people with pancreatic and other solid cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Related nanoparticle and tumor‑reprogramming strategies have shown promise in lab and animal studies but remain largely experimental with limited clinical proof to date.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pomper, Martin G — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Pomper, Martin G
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 below.