Radio-triggered CAR-T cells to better control solid tumors
Official title: Spatial and Temporal control of gene therapy in CAR-T cells with ionizing radiation to improve local and distant control of solid tumors
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11449605 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach uses radiation to turn on and guide CAR-T cells to fight solid tumors more effectively, potentially improving local and distant tumor control for patients with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $651,674 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA304126-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11449605 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with solid tumors where radiation and CAR-T strategies are being considered, potentially including those with tumors expressing target antigens studied in the project.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not express the relevant targets or cannot receive radiation therapy may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This project explores a radio-responsive CAR-T system that can be activated by radiation to enhance tumor targeting and immune response. Researchers will develop radio-inducible promoters and CAR-T production methods, then test them in lab dishes and in mouse tumor models to optimize timing, targets, and combinations with radiation. The goal is to make CAR-T therapy work better for solid cancers while potentially reducing systemic side effects. If successful, this work could enable more precise, effective, and flexible CAR-T treatments for patients with challenging tumors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with solid tumors may experience improved tumor control and durability of CAR-T therapy with potentially fewer systemic toxicities.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown that combining radiation with immunotherapies can enhance anti-tumor effects, supporting further development of radio-inducible CAR-T strategies.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weichselbaum, Ralph R — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Weichselbaum, Ralph 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.