Smart nanoparticles that switch on immune defenses inside tumors
Precision Engineering of STING-DC Immunity to Overcome Tumor Immune Evasion
This project will create nanoparticles that only activate a natural immune pathway (STING) inside tumors to help the immune system fight cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11177902 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are designing a nanoparticle that stays protected in normal tissues and only turns on when it senses the acidic, low-oxygen conditions found inside many tumors. The particles will deliver a STING-activating agent to wake up dendritic cells and boost the local antitumor immune response while reducing damage to healthy organs. The team will combine nanotechnology, immune-cell targeting, and lab and animal tests to refine safety, targeting, and how well the therapy reaches tumors. The longer-term aim is a tumor-specific immunotherapy that can work against cancers that resist current immune treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with solid tumors that have not responded to standard immunotherapies and whose tumors are suitable for nanoparticle delivery.
Not a fit: Patients with blood cancers, tumors that lack an acidic/hypoxic microenvironment, or those who cannot tolerate nanoparticle or immune-based treatments may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a safer, more effective immunotherapy that helps clear immune-resistant tumors without harming healthy tissue.
How similar studies have performed: STING agonists produced strong anti-cancer effects in preclinical lab and animal studies but early human trials showed limited benefit due to toxicity, making this tumor-targeted activation approach a novel attempt to improve safety and efficacy.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gao, Jinming — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Gao, Jinming
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 below.