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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 18, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $194,616 |
| NIH project number | 1K08AI201873-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-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
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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.