NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Spatiotemporal Tumor Analytics to Guide Sequential Targeted Inhibitors with Immunotherapy

Official title: Spatiotemporal Tumor Analytics for Guiding Sequential Targeted-Inhibitor: Immunotherapy Combinations (ST-Analytics)

Funded at Institute for Systems Biology · NIH-11415801 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A national team is testing whether giving targeted cancer drugs first and then immunotherapy works better than giving them together, using patient data and animal models to learn the best timing.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionInstitute for Systems Biology
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Seattle, United States)
Project startSeptember 22, 2022
Project endAugust 31, 2027
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$2,497,679
NIH project number5U54CA274509-05
Project IDNIH-11415801 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates are patients with cancers where targeted inhibitors and immunotherapies are used, including melanoma and metastases scenarios.

Less likely to help

Patients whose cancer biology does not respond to sequential strategies or who cannot tolerate immunotherapy may see no benefit.

What this research studies

This program seeks to uncover the best sequence and timing for combining targeted inhibitors with immunotherapy to improve cancer treatment. Researchers will analyze past patient data and run tumor models to understand how order and timing affect effectiveness and resistance, with a focus on melanoma and brain metastases. The project brings together experts from the Institute for Systems Biology and UCLA to build a data-driven framework that can guide future clinical trials. The work aims to translate complex findings into clearer strategies that doctors can apply when planning sequential therapies for patients.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could lead to more effective cancer treatments by optimizing the sequence of drugs, potentially improving response rates and delaying resistance.

How similar studies have gone: Previous work in melanoma supports the idea that sequencing can influence response, but translating this into a reliable clinical framework is still being established.

Where this research is happening

  • Institute for Systems Biology
    Seattle, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Heath, James R. — Institute for Systems Biology
  • Study coordinator: Heath, James R.

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.