New immunotherapy using engineered macrophages to fight cancer
Official title: RaceCAR-M immunotherapy for cancer and beyond
Funded at University of California Santa Barbara · NIH-10925846 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new cancer treatment that uses special immune cells called macrophages to better target and kill cancer cells while keeping healthy cells safe, and it's designed for patients looking for more effective and safer options than current therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Santa Barbara NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Barbara, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $1,088,500 |
| NIH project number | 1DP1CA300850-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10925846 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients who have not responded to traditional therapies and are seeking new treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage cancers or those who have not exhausted other treatment options may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a novel approach to cancer treatment using CAR-M (macrophage) immunotherapy, which aims to enhance the ability of macrophages to target and destroy cancer cells while minimizing damage to normal tissues. The study builds on previous findings from fruit fly research to improve the efficacy of human macrophages in attacking specific cancer cells. By addressing the limitations of current CAR-T therapies, this research seeks to make cellular immunotherapy more effective, accessible, and safer for patients. The project includes ongoing Phase 1 clinical trials to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of this innovative treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a more effective and safer treatment option for cancer patients who have limited alternatives.
How similar studies have gone: While CAR-M therapies are still in early clinical trials, preliminary results suggest they may offer advantages over traditional CAR-T therapies, indicating potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Montell, Denise J. — University of California Santa Barbara
- Study coordinator: Montell, Denise J.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Boosting immune response to fight cancer
This study is exploring a new way to help your immune system better fight cancer by tweaking certain cells in your body, and it aims to improve treatment for people with advanced cancer.
-
A center focused on immunotherapy for pediatric cancers.
This study is exploring new ways to use the body's immune system to fight childhood cancers, aiming to create better treatments for kids whose cancers haven't responded well to standard therapies.
-
Algorithms to find HLA-E neoantigens for cancer immunotherapy
Aims to develop computer methods to discover tumor-specific targets presented by HLA-E to guide new T cell therapies for cancer.
-
Immunotherapy for glioblastoma: advancing treatment and understanding
A patient-friendly summary of a grant exploring new immune-based treatments for glioblastoma to improve options for people affected by this brain cancer.
-
How CRISPR-based gene activation could shape immunotherapy responses in clear cell cancers
A research project at Stanford is using CRISPR-based gene activation to understand why some clear cell ovarian and kidney cancers respond to immunotherapy while others do not.
-
Hybrid biomaterial system to boost immunotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis
A new, patient-facing immunotherapy approach uses specialized particles to retrain the immune system to calm RA in adults.
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.