Off-the-shelf ADC-NK cell therapy platform for cancer and immune diseases
Official title: Off-the-Shelf ADC-Armed NK Cells Platform for Multi-Indication Immunotherapy
Funded at University of North Texas · NIH-11423909 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A universal, ready-to-use natural killer cell therapy armed with antibody-drug conjugates is being developed to target cancers and other diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of North Texas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Denton, United States) |
| Project start | August 12, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $148,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R16GM165390-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11423909 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include patients with cancers that overexpress HER2, Trop-2, or CD19, as well as potential future patients with related immune-mediated diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-targetable cancers or those unable to receive NK-cell therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a scalable, cryopreservable platform of ADC-armed NK cells that can be used off the shelf. Researchers will optimize how these cells are frozen and thawed so they stay active, and they will broaden targets beyond HER2 to include other cancers and immune-related conditions. The work combines targeted chemotherapy with NK cell killing to potentially improve precision and effectiveness. The study involves lab experiments with engineered cells, preclinical testing, and steps toward eventual human testing. It also provides hands-on training opportunities for students in immunotherapy research at the University of North Texas.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could gain access to a ready-made, multi-target immunotherapy option that works quickly and could be used across several cancer types.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary proof-of-concept showed antigen-specific tumor killing, supporting further development of ADC-NK cells.
Where this research is happening
-
University of North Texas
Denton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Won, Young-Wook — University of North Texas
- Study coordinator: Won, Young-Wook
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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.