Smarter antibody–drug cancer treatments that create lasting responses
Designing Antibody Drug Conjugates for Durable and Complete Therapeutic Responses
This project aims to build better antibody–drug combinations to help people with solid tumors get stronger, longer-lasting responses by engaging their immune system.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11238940 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers at the University of Michigan are designing new antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) and testing how different designs interact with the immune system. They will use lab experiments and animal models to see whether the drug pieces cause cancer cells to die in ways that stimulate immune responses, and whether immune cells pick up drug fragments and change how the treatment works. The team will also study how the antibody part itself can recruit immune functions and which protein formats work best. Ultimately they will look for combinations that could make tumor responses more complete and durable.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with solid tumors who are eligible for early-phase or experimental ADC trials, especially if their tumors express the proteins targeted by the ADCs, would be the most likely candidates for related clinical opportunities.
Not a fit: Patients needing immediate, approved standard-of-care treatment or whose tumors lack the ADC targets are unlikely to benefit directly from this preclinical research in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to ADC treatments that control tumors for longer periods or produce more complete remissions for people with solid cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Several ADCs have recently gained FDA approval and shown clinical benefit, but using immune effects to produce durable responses is still a new and not-yet-proven area.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thurber, Greg — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Thurber, Greg
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.