New targets on myeloma cells to drive smarter immunotherapies
Official title: Identifying cell surface targets for innovative immunotherapy of Multiple Myeloma
Funded at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst · NIH-11365896 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are seeking new cell surface targets on myeloma cells to develop better immunotherapies for people with multiple myeloma who have exhausted other treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $669,302 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA276939-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365896 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with multiple myeloma or related plasma cell disorders who have exhausted standard treatments and may be eligible for future targeted immunotherapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not affected by multiple myeloma or those not suitable for future target-directed therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds on existing BCMA-based therapies by identifying and validating additional protein targets on myeloma cells that could be attacked by future immune-based treatments. It uses advanced mass spectrometry and RNA sequencing to pinpoint promising surface proteins, then confirms their presence in patient samples and healthy blood cells. The goal is to create a pipeline that rapidly moves new targets toward clinical testing, potentially offering more durable responses for patients. The work is conducted at Moffitt Cancer Center under a principal investigator with extensive hematologic cancer expertise.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could broaden the options for immunotherapies in multiple myeloma and lead to therapies with longer-lasting responses.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that identifying novel targets can enable new immunotherapies, with some targets advancing toward clinical testing.
Where this research is happening
-
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst
Tampa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Perna, Fabiana — H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst
- Study coordinator: Perna, Fabiana
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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3D tumor microenvironment platform to test immunotherapies for multiple myeloma
A 3D, lab-grown model of multiple myeloma’s tumor environment is being developed to help test immunotherapies and new drug options.
-
3D lab platform that mimics the bone marrow around multiple myeloma for testing immunotherapies
A lab-grown 3D system that recreates the bone marrow environment so researchers can test immunotherapies and drugs for people with multiple myeloma.
-
Finding new targets on cancer cells for better multiple myeloma treatments
This research looks for new ways to target multiple myeloma cells to create more effective and lasting immune-based therapies for patients.
-
Finding new targets for immunotherapy in Multiple Myeloma
This study is looking for new ways to treat Multiple Myeloma by finding specific proteins on cancer cells that could help create better immunotherapies, with the hope of helping patients stay in remission longer after their current treatments.
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Analyzing the tumor environment in multiple myeloma to improve immunotherapy and drug testing.
This study is looking at how the environment around myeloma cells affects the cancer and its response to treatments, using a special 3D model to better understand why some patients do well with therapies like CAR-T while others don’t.
-
Integrative study of multiple myeloma genetics and disease biology
A team at Dana-Farber and partners is pursuing a long-term project to understand the genetic and molecular drivers of multiple myeloma and how treatments interact with disease biology.
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.