NIH-funded research Career grant

T Cell Precursors to Restore Immune Power After Stem Cell Transplants

Official title: T Cell Precursor-Induced Immune Reprogramming After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Funded at Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research · NIH-11438593 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This grant supports a patient-friendly approach to speed up immune recovery after a stem cell transplant by giving patients donor‑made T cell precursors that mature into healthy immune cells.

More Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeCareer grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionSloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project startAugust 18, 2026
Project endJuly 31, 2031
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$194,616
NIH project number1K08AI201873-01
Project IDNIH-11438593 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Adults undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation who are at risk for prolonged immune deficiency.

Less likely to help

Patients not undergoing allogeneic HCT or those with contraindications to adoptive cell transfer may not benefit.

What this research studies

For people who have received an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant, this project tests a clinically doable method to shorten the period of immune deficiency. The strategy uses donor cells to create T cell precursors in a GMP-compliant system, with the aim that these precursors mature into functional T cells and help prevent infections and relapse. Early results in models suggest these precursors can promote thymus new-formation and support broader immune reconstitution, including natural killer cells and other myeloid cells, without causing graft-versus-host disease. The work envisions a transplant pathway where patients receive enhanced immune rebuilding, potentially reducing infection-related complications and improving long-term disease control.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience faster and more complete immune recovery after transplant, reducing infections and relapse risk.

How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data show that donor-derived T cell precursors can mature into functional T cells and support immune reconstitution without GVHD in animal models.

Where this research is happening

  • Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
    New York, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Tsai, Jennifer Jia-Ying — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
  • Study coordinator: Tsai, Jennifer Jia-Ying

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.