Spatially resolved single-cell biomarkers to guide B cell lymphoma therapy
Official title: Spatially resolved, single cell biomarkers of B cell lymphoma
Funded at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · NIH-11381871 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to map tiny details in the tumor and immune cells of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma to help predict outcomes and guide treatments.
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 | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $509,732 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA266544-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11381871 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with aggressive B cell lymphoma, including DLBCL, whose tumor samples can be studied with spatial imaging techniques.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not exhibit the studied patterns or who are not treated with the therapies analyzed may not experience a direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project will use advanced imaging to study tumor samples from patients with aggressive B cell lymphoma, focusing on the tumor microenvironment. By analyzing thousands of cases, researchers will create a new scoring system that links spatial patterns of cells to how patients respond to therapy. They will examine how different immune and tumor cells interact and how these patterns relate to chemoresistance and response to immune-based treatments. The work includes testing these findings in lab models to understand mechanisms behind treatment responses. The goal is to move toward more personalized, biology-driven treatment decisions for lymphoma patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from more precise predictions of therapy response and the development of targeted treatment strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that tumor microenvironment features influence treatment response, but this project aims to translate spatial single-cell data into actionable biomarkers.
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.
-
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.
-
Understanding how immune features predict immunotherapy response in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
A study to find genomic and immune markers in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma that could help predict who benefits from immunotherapies.
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.