Synthetic circuit tools to precisely control human immune cells
Official title: Synthetic circuit technologies for precision control and signal processing in mammalian cells
Funded at Harvard University · NIH-11578747 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to design safe, programmable gene circuits that can steer human immune cells for better therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | August 26, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $760,019 |
| NIH project number | 7R01EB029483-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11578747 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals who may benefit include patients eligible for next-generation cellular therapies, such as engineered T cell or macrophage-based treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not eligible for cellular therapies or those with conditions not targeted by the project’s immune cell approaches may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds clinically-ready tools to control gene activity inside human immune cells, with a focus on macrophages and T cells. Researchers already showed that their circuits can direct complex immune actions in primary human cells and have a clinical trial underway for next-generation cellular therapy. The team will expand these circuits to enable coordinated responses across multiple immune cell types, aiming for precise, controllable therapies. The work involves engineering and testing in human cell systems to move toward real-world clinical applications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more precisely controlled cell-based therapies with potentially fewer side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has demonstrated programmable control of human T cells and progression toward clinical testing with multi-immune strategies.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard University
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Khalil, Ahmad Samir — Harvard University
- Study coordinator: Khalil, Ahmad Samir
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Using biomaterials to boost T cell immunity against cancer
This study is exploring new ways to boost the immune system's T cells, which help fight cancer, by using special materials to create artificial cells that can better activate them, with the hope of developing improved treatments for cancer patients.
-
Understanding how venom glands develop to reveal new medicines
A Corsortium at Harvard studies how venom glands form and work in different animals to uncover new ways to create and use powerful medicines for human health.
-
Muscle Mass: a Key Missing Piece in How We Model Movement
This project studies how adding muscle mass to computer models changes predictions of movement, aiming to improve mobility for people of all ages.
-
HPF-X: A fast, buffer-exchanging high-pressure freezing tool for capturing rapid cellular events
A new tool called HPF-X will let scientists freeze cells at precise moments after stimulation, so we can see rapid molecular changes in neuroscience and related fields.
-
Pathways and factors to prevent early-onset colorectal tumors
This NIH grant would explore why colorectal cancer is rising in people under 50 and identify clues we can use to prevent it.
-
Define how DNA damage leads to unexplained cancer mutations
A research project is exploring how DNA damage from everyday biology and the environment creates cancer-related mutation patterns, to better understand cancer causes.
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.