Reawakening tired cancer-fighting T cells with miR-29a
Epigenetic regulation of exhausted CD8 T cells via the miR-29a-TET2 axis
Testing whether boosting a small molecule called miR-29a can reawaken exhausted CD8 T cells so they fight cancer better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11325871 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work focuses on exhausted CD8 T cells that stop protecting the body from cancer and looks for ways to make them work again. Researchers will deliver or increase miR-29a in immune cells and examine how that changes the cells' epigenetic (on/off) programs. They will use lab-grown human cells and preclinical models and compare miR-29a effects with current checkpoint-blocking therapies. The team will measure durability and stem-like properties of treated T cells and test combinations that might produce longer-lasting anti-tumor responses.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with cancers where exhausted CD8 T cells limit response to immunotherapy, especially those eligible for immune-based treatments or willing to donate tumor/blood samples.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers are not driven by immune exhaustion or who cannot provide samples or attend follow-up visits are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make immunotherapies work for more patients by producing longer-lasting, more effective anti-cancer T cell responses.
How similar studies have performed: Checkpoint inhibitors have helped many patients but often fail to produce durable protection, and using microRNAs like miR-29a to reprogram T cell epigenetics is a relatively new and early-stage approach with encouraging preliminary data.
Where this research is happening
Coral Gables, United States
- University of Miami School of Medicine — Coral Gables, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stelekati, Erietta — University of Miami School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Stelekati, Erietta
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 below.