NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Predictive models to guide immunotherapy combinations for melanoma

Official title: PROJECT 2: Development and Refinement of Predictive Models for Designing Immunotherapy Combination Treatments

Funded at Institute for Systems Biology · NIH-11415805 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A study to build and refine computer models that help design better combination immunotherapies for melanoma patients.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionInstitute for Systems Biology
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Seattle, United States)
Project startSeptember 22, 2022
Project endAugust 31, 2027
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$416,280
NIH project number5U54CA274509-05
Project IDNIH-11415805 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Patients with cutaneous melanoma who may be eligible for immune and targeted therapy combinations and who participate in related clinical trials.

Less likely to help

Patients not planned for or unable to participate in related trials or immune-targeted regimens may not directly benefit.

What this research studies

This project aims to create predictive models that integrate deep phenotyping, spatial and temporal data to guide how immune therapies and targeted drugs can be sequenced for melanoma. It uses active learning and iterative approaches to test model predictions in a preclinical and clinical design context, with the goal of improving trial design and patient outcomes. By accounting for both tumor-intrinsic factors and the immune environment, the work seeks to identify regimens that prevent or overcome resistance to MAPK pathway inhibitors and immune therapies. Patients could benefit from more effective, personalized treatment sequences in future trials.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive better-structured combination therapies with higher chances of durable responses.

How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown that integrating immune factors with targeted therapies can influence outcomes, but the exact predictive models and sequencing strategies are still being developed.

Where this research is happening

  • Institute for Systems Biology
    Seattle, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Thorsson, Vesteinn — Institute for Systems Biology
  • Study coordinator: Thorsson, Vesteinn

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.