Off-the-Shelf Immune Cells to Fight Childhood Blood Cancers
Official title: Off-the-Shelf Immune Effector Cells for Hematological Malignancies
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11324629 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A US study from Minnesota is exploring ready-to-use immune cells to treat kids with leukemia that may not respond to standard therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 1997 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,080,518 |
| NIH project number | 5P01CA065493-29 |
| Project ID | NIH-11324629 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children with CD19+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia who may benefit from off-the-shelf, multi-target immune cell therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with leukemia types not addressed by these specific IEC designs or those who cannot tolerate cellular immunotherapy may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant focuses on using engineered immune cells, like CAR T cells, that can be shipped off the shelf to children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It aims to address challenges such as safety, durability, and manufacturing cost so these therapies can be more accessible. The work includes multiple projects and cores to develop allogeneic, multi-targeted, and regulatable cell therapies and to translate new manufacturing methods for broader use. The goal is to improve tumor killing while reducing toxic side effects and logistical barriers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make advanced cellular immunotherapies safer, more effective, and available sooner for children with leukemia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show promise for CAR-based approaches, with ongoing work to improve safety and access.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wagner, John E. — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Wagner, John E.
Related research
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Improving care for leukemia and other blood cancers
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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.