NIH-funded research Sbir 2 grant

New CAR T cell therapy for B cell cancers

Official title: Allogeneic BAFF Ligand Based CAR T Cells as a Novel Therapy for B Cell Malignancies

Funded at Luminary Therapeutics, INC. · NIH-10698759 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing a new treatment using special immune cells to help people with mantle cell lymphoma, aiming to make the therapy work better and last longer by using a unique approach to boost the immune response against the cancer.

Quick facts

Grant typeSbir 2 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionLuminary Therapeutics, INC.
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Minneapolis, United States)
Project startJuly 1, 2023
Project endJune 30, 2025
Funding year2023
Award (this year)$397,934
NIH project number1R44CA278021-01A1
Project IDNIH-10698759 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma or other B cell malignancies who have not responded to existing therapies.

Less likely to help

Patients with non-B cell malignancies or those who have not been diagnosed with any form of cancer may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates a novel therapy using allogeneic CAR T cells that target B cell malignancies, specifically mantle cell lymphoma. The approach focuses on utilizing B cell activating factor (BAFF) to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment by improving T cell persistence and reducing the chances of cancer cells evading therapy. By leveraging a unique ligand-based CAR design in gamma delta T cells, the research aims to create a more durable and effective treatment option for patients. This innovative method seeks to overcome limitations of current therapies that primarily target pan B cell antigens.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a more effective and long-lasting treatment option for patients with B cell malignancies.

How similar studies have gone: While CAR T cell therapies have shown success in treating various cancers, this specific approach using BAFF and gamma delta T cells is novel and has not been widely tested.

Where this research is happening

  • Luminary Therapeutics, INC.
    Minneapolis, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Lewis, Andrew Kyle — Luminary Therapeutics, INC.
  • Study coordinator: Lewis, Andrew Kyle

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Allogeneic BAFF-based CAR T Cells for B Cell Cancers

    A new donor-derived CAR T cell therapy using BAFF ligands is being explored to treat B cell malignancies like mantle cell lymphoma, aiming for better persistence and easier access than current autologous treatments.

    NIH research Luminary Therapeutics, INC. · Minneapolis, United States · NIH-11421504

  • Off-the-shelf BAFF-targeting CAR T for B‑cell cancers

    An off-the-shelf CAR T-cell therapy that uses the BAFF ligand to target B‑cell cancers like mantle cell lymphoma.

    NIH research Luminary Therapeutics, INC. · Minneapolis, United States · NIH-11379617

  • A new CAR T cell therapy targeting ovarian cancer

    This study is testing a new type of CAR T cell therapy for women with ovarian cancer that uses special immune cells to better target the cancer and includes a safety feature to help protect patients from side effects.

    NIH research Luminary Therapeutics, INC. · Minneapolis, United States · NIH-10921643

  • New CAR T-cell therapy targeting B cells for lupus treatment

    This study is testing a new type of CAR T-cell therapy designed to help people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by targeting and removing the harmful B cells that contribute to the disease, with the hope of improving treatment outcomes and safety.

    NIH research Luminary Therapeutics, INC. · Minneapolis, United States · NIH-10761003

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.