Spatial immune cell maps for aggressive B‑cell lymphoma
Official title: Spatially resolved, single cell biomarkers of B cell lymphoma
Funded at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · NIH-11160592 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are using advanced single‑cell imaging to map cancer and immune cells in aggressive B‑cell lymphomas to find markers that could help guide treatment for adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $624,093 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA266544-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11160592 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) with aggressive B‑cell lymphomas such as diffuse large B‑cell lymphoma, especially those able to provide tumor tissue or linked clinical records, are the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without B‑cell lymphoma or those who cannot provide tumor samples or clinical follow‑up data are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
From a patient's view, this project looks closely at individual cells and their locations in tumor tissue from over 2,000 cases of aggressive B‑cell lymphoma. The team will validate spatial protein markers linked to outcomes in about 830 patients and search for shared tumor‑microenvironment patterns across roughly 1,380 cases. They will also use lab models to test which immune or support cells drive chemotherapy resistance or affect response to immune therapies. The researchers combine a new M‑score with high‑plex imaging to connect cell neighborhoods with prognosis and treatment response.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could produce biomarkers that help predict prognosis and personalize choices about immunotherapy or chemotherapy for people with aggressive B‑cell lymphoma.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research shows tumor microenvironment features can predict lymphoma outcomes, but applying large‑scale, multiplexed spatial single‑cell imaging across thousands of cases is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Merchant, Akil — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Merchant, Akil
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Immunotherapy for B-cell lymphoma using NK T cells
A patient-focused immunotherapy approach using natural killer T cells engineered to target B-cell lymphoma, potentially offering off-the-shelf treatment options.
-
Immune Evasion by HLA-E in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
A researcher is studying how a molecule called HLA-E helps a type of blood cancer (DLBCL) hide from the immune system, with findings that may lead to better treatments.
-
Cardioprotective treatment choices for DLBCL patients at risk of heart damage
Atrially, this study tests two heart-protecting drugs given during cancer treatment to see which best prevents heart problems in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who are at higher risk for heart damage.
-
Translating Genomics to Practice to Overcome Disparities in DLBCL
A patient-focused project aims to understand why diffuse large B-cell lymphoma outcomes differ among people and how genomic information can guide better care for diverse groups.
-
Spatially resolved single-cell biomarkers to guide B cell lymphoma therapy
Aims to map tiny details in the tumor and immune cells of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma to help predict outcomes and guide treatments.
-
From pathogenesis to new targets for treating diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
A patient-focused look at how this research aims to uncover new genetic clues to guide targeted therapies for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
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.