Programmable implanted living materials to fight pancreatic cancer
Official title: Engineered Living Materials as Programmable Therapeutic Implants for Pancreatic Cancer
Funded at Cornell University · NIH-11527218 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-facing program will explore a safe, implantable living material that delivers sequential immunotherapies directly to pancreatic tumors to help fight cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cornell University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ithaca, United States) |
| Project start | September 2, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R00CA300498-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11527218 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with pancreatic cancer who are candidates for local therapy and meet safety criteria for implantable devices and bacterial-based approaches.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with advanced disease where local implantable therapy is not appropriate or those unable to undergo such a procedure may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds an implantable living material that contains engineered bacteria within a protective gel to release cancer-fighting signals in a controlled sequence. It aims to overcome the poor drug delivery and strong tumor defenses seen in pancreatic cancer by coordinating timing and combination of therapies at the tumor site. The study will move from lab work toward testing safety and early effectiveness that could lead to better local treatment with fewer systemic side effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve local tumor control and stimulate a stronger anti-cancer immune response while reducing damage to healthy tissues.
How similar studies have gone: Early work shows promise for implantable living materials delivering therapy locally, but the approach is still early in development.
Where this research is happening
-
Cornell University
Ithaca, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harimoto, Tetsuhiro — Cornell University
- Study coordinator: Harimoto, Tetsuhiro
Related research
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-
Microbial Dysbiosis and Its Role in Pancreatic Cancer
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-
Targeting aberrant enhancer landscapes in pancreatic cancer
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Exosome-based microRNA biomarkers for early, non-invasive detection of pancreatic cancer
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-
Exosome-based microRNA biomarkers for early detection of pancreatic cancer
A patient-friendly look at a study using tiny blood-based RNA markers inside exosomes to catch pancreatic cancer early without invasive procedures.
-
Targeting how platelets and pancreatic cancer talk to each other
A study exploring whether blocking the interaction between platelets and pancreatic cancer cells could slow cancer growth and spread and help identify new biomarkers.
-
Bioelectrical signals in pancreatic cancer cells: shaping immune responses
This grant explores how electrical signals inside pancreatic cancer cells affect how the immune system can fight the cancer, with the goal of making immunotherapy work better.
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.