Single cell methods to find natural products that boost cancer immunity
Official title: Single Cell Methods for Bioeffector Discovery and Analysis
Funded at Vanderbilt University · NIH-11398246 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new lab platform uses single-cell analysis to discover natural product drugs that help the immune system fight cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | December 18, 2018 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,884,798 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA226833-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398246 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancers treated by natural product–based chemotherapy or those eligible for immune-activation–targeted therapies could benefit in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Direct participation is not part of this grant; it focuses on lab discovery and method development.
What this research studies
This project aims to uncover how certain natural product–based cancer drugs trigger immune responses. By building a high-throughput, single-cell chemical biology assay, researchers will link how cell death signals relate to immune-activating markers. The work could point to combinations that enhance anti-tumor immunity and guide future therapies. Participants would not yet be enrolled; findings could eventually lead to trials or biomarker tests to personalize treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from more effective natural product–based therapies that mobilize the immune system to attack cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that some natural products can trigger immune responses, but the specific single-cell mechanism mapping is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bachmann, Brian O — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Bachmann, Brian O
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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.