Off-the-shelf regulatory T cell therapy for blood cancers (CAR-T Tregs)
Official title: Engineered CD4 Tregs Targeting B-ALL and AML
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11324630 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-focused look at a potential cell therapy that uses donor-derived regulatory T cells engineered to attack certain blood cancers.
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) | $337,100 |
| NIH project number | 5P01CA065493-29 |
| Project ID | NIH-11324630 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with specific B-cell malignancies or acute leukemias who could benefit from CAR-T cell therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without these malignancies or whose disease does not respond to this approach may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores creating an off-the-shelf cell therapy using regulatory T cells engineered with CARs to target leukemia and lymphoma cells. The approach aims to improve consistency, reduce delays, and lower toxicities seen with current autologous CAR-T treatments. If successful, this could translate into faster, safer options for patients with AML or ALL who need effective immunotherapy. The work includes preclinical testing for tumor-killing activity and strategies to enhance persistence while minimizing adverse effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to a readily available, safer CAR-T–based therapy for certain blood cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous Treg-based CAR approaches showed tumor-killing potential in preclinical models and early trials for GVHD.
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
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Preventing childhood B-ALL through maternal diet and TVA intake
A study at Loyola University Chicago will explore whether a mother’s intake of TVA during pregnancy can help prevent childhood B-ALL in babies.
-
Metabolic drivers of B-ALL diversity and relapse risk
A study at Stanford will explore how diverse B-cell receptor rearrangements and their metabolism shape relapse risk in children and adults with B-ALL, with the goal of improving detection and treatment.
-
Donor CAR T Cells Added to Transplant to Prevent Relapse in adults with B-ALL
A new approach combines donor CAR-T cells targeting CD19 and CD22 with a stem cell transplant to lower relapse risk in adults with B-ALL.
-
Improving CAR T-cell therapy for pediatric B-ALL
A physician-scientist at St. Jude aims to advance CAR T-cell therapy for children with high-risk B-ALL by testing new donor-derived and enhanced autologous CAR T-cell approaches in early-phase trials.
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Understanding how genetics contribute to childhood B-ALL (a type of leukemia)
Aims to map genetic risk factors that lead to relapse or development of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children, with a focus on diverse populations.
-
Targeting VAV3 and ERa to treat high‑risk B-ALL in adults and children
This grant tests a new treatment strategy that combines a VAV3 inhibitor with an estrogen receptor degrader to help patients with difficult-to-treat B-ALL, including relapsed cases.
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.