NIH-funded research Career grant

Targeting immune cells to boost brain tumor treatments

Official title: Targeting myeloid cells to increase efficacy of immunotherapy against brain tumors.

Funded at Case Western Reserve University · NIH-11384888 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A clinician-scientist at Case Western Reserve University will study how immune-supporting cells in brain tumors become suppressive and hinder immunotherapy, with training to lead independent research in this area.

More Immunotherapy research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeCareer grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionCase Western Reserve University
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Cleveland, United States)
Project startJuly 19, 2023
Project endAugust 31, 2028
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$211,464
NIH project number5K08CA276819-04
Project IDNIH-11384888 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Patients with brain tumors who could benefit from improved immunotherapy and from future trials related to brain tumor immunology.

Less likely to help

Patients with tumors not driven by immune suppression may see limited direct benefit.

What this research studies

This early-career grant supports a physician-scientist as they learn advanced immune biology and connect lab findings to potential brain cancer therapies. The project focuses on the immune cells inside brain tumors that dampen treatment effects and explores how to overcome this suppression. The fellow will gain leadership, grant-writing, and scientific communication skills while conducting hands-on experiments and collaborating with world-class mentors. The goal is to prepare the researcher to run an independent lab that discovers new ways to improve brain cancer immunotherapy.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal targets to make brain cancer immunotherapy work better for patients.

How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have demonstrated the critical role of tumor-associated myeloid cells in suppressing immune responses, supporting the rationale for this approach.

Where this research is happening

  • Case Western Reserve University
    Cleveland, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Miller, Tyler Eugene — Case Western Reserve University
  • Study coordinator: Miller, Tyler Eugene

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Improving immunotherapy for brain tumors by targeting specific immune cells.

    This study is looking at why some immune cells in brain tumors stop helping the body fight the cancer, even when treatments like immunotherapy are used, and it's aimed at finding ways to make these treatments work better for patients with brain tumors.

    NIH research Case Western Reserve University · Cleveland, United States · NIH-11144745

  • Combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy to treat pediatric brain tumors

    This study is testing a new treatment for kids with brain tumors who haven't had success with regular therapies, using a mix of chemotherapy, radiation, and an immune-boosting drug called indoximod to help their bodies fight the cancer better.

    NIH research Augusta University · Augusta, United States · NIH-10691878

  • Boosting immune response to fight cancer

    This study is exploring a new way to help your immune system better fight cancer by tweaking certain cells in your body, and it aims to improve treatment for people with advanced cancer.

    NIH research University of Missouri-Columbia · Columbia, United States · NIH-9868156

  • A center focused on immunotherapy for pediatric cancers.

    This study is exploring new ways to use the body's immune system to fight childhood cancers, aiming to create better treatments for kids whose cancers haven't responded well to standard therapies.

    NIH research Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp · Columbus, United States · NIH-9839924

  • Algorithms to find HLA-E neoantigens for cancer immunotherapy

    Aims to develop computer methods to discover tumor-specific targets presented by HLA-E to guide new T cell therapies for cancer.

    NIH research University of Maryland Baltimore · Baltimore, United States · NIH-11618504

  • Immunotherapy for glioblastoma: advancing treatment and understanding

    A patient-friendly summary of a grant exploring new immune-based treatments for glioblastoma to improve options for people affected by this brain cancer.

    NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-11608606

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.