Reprogramming T cells to boost their cancer-fighting power
Official title: Decoding and reprogramming T cells through synthetic biology for cancer immunotherapy
Funded at J. David Gladstone Institutes · NIH-11258562 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are designing engineered T cells with added genes to help them stay active longer and better attack cancers that don't respond to current cell therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | J. David Gladstone Institutes NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $749,187 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA276368-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11258562 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be patients with cancers that are resistant to existing T cell therapies or those eligible for early-phase trials testing new engineered T cell products.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancers are not suitable for T-cell-based treatments or who cannot undergo cell collection and infusion procedures may not receive direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
This work inserts synthetic genes into human T cells to prevent the tired, dysfunctional state that can happen when T cells face tumors for a long time. The team uses CRISPR-based knock-in screens and genome-wide activation tools to test many gene programs and chimeric receptors in patient-derived T cells in the lab. Promising gene combinations that improve T cell survival and killing under chronic tumor stimulation are identified through pooled screening. Top candidates could be developed into next-generation cell therapy products for clinical testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to stronger, longer-lasting T cell therapies that work for more types of cancer and help patients who don't benefit from current CAR-T treatments.
How similar studies have gone: CAR-T therapies have cured some blood cancers, and early lab studies using CRISPR knock-in and gene-activation screens have shown promise, but applying these synthetic programs to a broader set of cancers is still experimental.
Where this research is happening
-
J. David Gladstone Institutes
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marson, Alexander — J. David Gladstone Institutes
- Study coordinator: Marson, Alexander
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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.