Personalized vaccines for high-risk neuroblastoma
Official title: Personalized neuroblastoma vaccines
Funded at Children's Hosp of Philadelphia · NIH-11391029 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A pediatric cancer research grant aims to create customized vaccines that target specific tumor markers in children with high-risk neuroblastoma to help the immune system fight the cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $809,906 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA281881-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11391029 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children with high-risk neuroblastoma who have achieved remission with standard therapy and are eligible for vaccination strategies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without high-risk neuroblastoma or those not eligible for vaccine-based immunotherapy may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on using a patient’s own tumor information to design a multivalent neoantigen vaccine for high-risk neuroblastoma. Researchers will identify and predict neoepitopes from canonical and non-canonical mutations to craft personalized vaccine peptides. The goal is to engage CD8 T cells and other parts of the adaptive immune system to eradicate residual disease and prevent relapse after standard therapy. The study takes place in a pediatric setting at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, with a team led by John M. Maris and collaborators. If successful, this approach could reduce relapse and treatment-related toxicity by offering a tailored immunotherapy option.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, children with high-risk neuroblastoma could have improved survival and fewer relapse-related complications through a personalized immune-based vaccine.
How similar studies have gone: Previous approaches in personalized cancer vaccines show promise, but this specific neoantigen-based neuroblastoma vaccine is still investigational and in early stages.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maris, John M — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Maris, John M
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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.