NIH-funded research R01 grant

Role of VISTA in AML immune evasion

Official title: Investigating the Role of VISTA in Driving Immune Evasion in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Funded at Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru · NIH-11418478 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A companying therapy goal is to block a specific immune brake (VISTA) to help the immune system fight acute myeloid leukemia.

More Leukemia research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionCleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Cleveland, United States)
Project startSeptember 22, 2025
Project endJune 30, 2030
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$654,837
NIH project number5R01CA302819-02
Project IDNIH-11418478 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Patients with acute myeloid leukemia who could benefit from novel immunotherapies (e.g., those who relapse or do not respond to standard therapy).

Less likely to help

Patients whose AML does not respond to VISTA-targeted strategies or who cannot tolerate experimental therapies may not benefit.

What this research studies

This project studies how the immune checkpoint VISTA affects immune cells in AML and whether blocking VISTA can make leukemia cells more visible to the immune system. It will explore the signaling pathways in myeloid cells and test VISTA inhibitors in preclinical AML models. If successful, the work could lead to new immune-based treatments for AML patients. The research is conducted at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner and Case Western Reserve University, led by Dr. Lily Wang.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could pave the way for new immunotherapies that boost anti-leukemia immune responses in patients with AML.

How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies in immune checkpoint research have shown potential in modulating anti-tumor immunity, though translation to AML is still under investigation.

Where this research is happening

  • Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
    Cleveland, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Wang, Li Lily — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
  • Study coordinator: Wang, Li Lily

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.