Reprogramming the tumor-immune interface in oral cancer
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11364966 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Stanford-led project aims to help people with oral cancer by making the immune system better at recognizing and attacking tumor cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 8, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $946,414 |
| NIH project number | 5R35DE030054-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11364966 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma, especially those whose disease may benefit from immune-based therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not engage with immune-based strategies or who cannot tolerate immune therapies may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project studies how oral squamous cell carcinoma interacts with the immune system and tests strategies to make immune cells more effective against the cancer. Researchers use patient tumor samples and new mouse models to explore what makes tumors respond to immune signals, how to create targets for therapy, and how to boost natural killer cells to fight OSCC. The goal is to identify mechanisms that can be targeted to improve existing immunotherapies and develop new approaches for patients with oral cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more effective immunotherapies for oral cancer and higher survival rates.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows that the tumor-immune interface can be modulated to improve responses in some cancers, with ongoing exploration in OSCC.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sunwoo, John B — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Sunwoo, John B
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Mobile platform using AI to screen for oral cancer in low-resource communities
A low-cost, AI-powered mobile tool helps frontline healthcare workers screen for oral cancer and triage patients in communities with limited access to specialists.
-
Endosomal signaling and cancer pain control in oral cancer
A study to understand how signals inside nerve cells and supportive cells contribute to pain in people with oral cancer.
-
Affordable AI-enabled point-of-care tool for quick oral cancer checks
A low-cost AI-powered imaging module helps clinicians screen for oral cancer at the point of care, especially in community and resource-limited settings.
-
How tissue stiffness affects oral cancer spread
A researcher at UC San Diego is studying how the stiffness of mouth tissue influences the behavior of oral cancer cells in people.
-
Intraoperative fluorescence lifetime imaging to guide oral cancer surgery
A surgeon-friendly imaging system uses fluorescence lifetime signals and real-time MRI/CT alignment to help remove only cancerous tissue during oral cancer operations.
-
Point-of-Care AI Image Tool for Early Oral Cancer Detection
A new, affordable AI-powered tool helps frontline clinicians screen for oral cancer early by using a low-cost imaging module at the point of care.
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.