Oklahoma Center of ImmunoEngineering (OCIE) to accelerate cancer and immune research
Official title: Oklahoma Center of ImmunoEngineering (OCIE)
Funded at University of Oklahoma · NIH-11269422 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A nationwide-friendly grant supports Oklahoma scientists in building a center that uses engineering and data science to study the immune system and its role in cancer, infections, and other diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oklahoma NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Norman, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2026 |
| Project end | January 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,548,979 |
| NIH project number | 1P20GM162339-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11269422 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancer, viral infections, diabetes, or other immune-related conditions who might benefit from future immunoengineering approaches.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate clinical results from a single treatment study may not benefit directly during the center-building phase.
What this research studies
This grant funds the creation of OCIE at the University of Oklahoma to bring together immunoengineering, omics data science, and mentoring for researchers. It will provide shared infrastructure, new technologies, and end-to-end services to advance immunology-based projects. The center aims to help researchers generate and analyze large datasets, develop computational models, and accelerate discoveries that could ultimately benefit patients with cancer, viral infections, and immune-related diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, OCIE could speed up the development of new immunotherapies and data-driven treatments that help patients with cancer and other immune-driven illnesses.
How similar studies have gone: Other COBRE centers have shown that combining immunology with data science accelerates discovery and translation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Oklahoma
Norman, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Wei R. — University of Oklahoma
- Study coordinator: Chen, Wei R.
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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.