Off-the-shelf BAFF-targeting CAR T 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-11379617 · Data updated 2026-11-12
An off-the-shelf CAR T-cell therapy that uses the BAFF ligand to target B‑cell cancers like mantle cell lymphoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Luminary Therapeutics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,463,315 |
| NIH project number | 4R44CA278021-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11379617 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with mantle cell lymphoma or other relapsed/refractory B‑cell malignancies, especially those who have relapsed after CD19-directed therapies, would be the most likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with cancers that are not driven by B cells or who are medically ineligible for cell therapy (for example, severe organ dysfunction or active uncontrolled infection) would not be expected to benefit.
What this research studies
You would receive a donor-derived (allogeneic) CAR T product made from γδ T cells that are engineered to use the BAFF ligand to find and kill cancerous B cells. The therapy is designed to bind multiple BAFF receptors (BAFF-R, TACI, BCMA) so cancer cells are less able to escape by losing a single antigen. Researchers will test the engineered cells for cancer-killing ability, persistence, and safety in lab and preclinical models while developing manufacturing methods for an off-the-shelf product. If those steps look promising, the approach would be prepared for early clinical testing in patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could become a readily available CAR T option that lasts longer and reduces relapse compared with current single-antigen therapies.
How similar studies have gone: CD19-directed CAR T therapies have produced durable remissions in some B‑cell cancers, but BAFF-ligand CARs and allogeneic γδ CAR platforms are novel and currently have limited clinical data.
Where this research is happening
-
Luminary Therapeutics, INC.
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gibbons, Hunter Ramsdell — Luminary Therapeutics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Gibbons, Hunter Ramsdell
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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New CAR T cell therapy for B cell cancers
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.
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.