T cell therapy that delivers immune-boosting IL-12 to lung tumors
Official title: Immune modulating T cell therapy for lung cancer
Funded at Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center · NIH-11247574 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new engineered T cell treatment that targets lung tumors and releases the immune protein IL-12 directly at the cancer, aimed at people with lung cancer including Veterans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | November 1, 2024 |
| Project end | October 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX006455-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11247574 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with lung tumors that express mesothelin or C3d, particularly patients with advanced or treatment-refractory disease who are eligible for cell therapy programs.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not express the target markers or who are medically unable to undergo cell collection, conditioning, or infusion are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
Researchers are building CAR-T cells engineered to recognize two tumor markers (mesothelin and C3d) and to release the cytokine IL-12 at the tumor site to boost local immunity. They use a form of adoptive transfer designed to preserve overall immune function and add a drug-controlled gene switch to turn the therapy on or off for safety. The current work is preclinical, testing safety, targeting, and a manufacturing process that could support a future investigational new drug application. The team plans manufacturing and quality-control studies to prepare this therapy for eventual clinical testing in Veterans with lung cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a more targeted and controllable lung cancer immunotherapy that improves tumor killing while reducing systemic side effects.
How similar studies have gone: CAR-T therapies have been very successful for blood cancers but have had limited success in solid tumors so far, and local IL-12 delivery is a promising but still experimental strategy.
Where this research is happening
-
Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: O'neil, Richard Thomas — Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: O'neil, Richard Thomas
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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.