SaberGel: a new gel-based therapy to help treat oral cancer
Official title: SaberGel, a Multimodal Delivery System for the Treatment of Oral Cancer
Funded at Rice University · NIH-11317653 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new gel-based treatment delivers cancer-fighting drugs directly into oral tumors to boost immune attack while reducing side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rice University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $679,253 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DE035735-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11317653 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma who are candidates for surgical resection and adjuvant therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not respond to localized immunotherapy or who cannot receive intratumoral injections may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project at Rice University seeks to create a nanofibrous, peptide-based hydrogel that can be injected into the tumor to release multiple therapies over time. The gel uses SABER peptides to control when and where four therapeutic agents are released, aiming to recruit immune cells and overcome tumor defenses. By focusing therapy inside the tumor, the approach hopes to reduce systemic toxicity and prevent cancer recurrence after surgery. If successful, patients with oral cavity cancer could have more durable responses with fewer immune-related side effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this therapy could improve tumor control and reduce side effects by delivering treatment directly to the tumor site.
How similar studies have gone: Prior localized delivery approaches have shown promise in reducing toxicity and enhancing tumor kill, though this exact multi-cargo gel is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Rice University
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hartgerink, Jeffrey Dale — Rice University
- Study coordinator: Hartgerink, Jeffrey Dale
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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.