Targeting PIPKIγi5 to boost immune responses against head and neck cancer
Official title: PIPKIgammai5 in the Immune Response to Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-11449300 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to see if blocking a specific enzyme, PIPKIγi5, can make head and neck cancer more visible to the immune system and more responsive to existing immunotherapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $632,383 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DE035186-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11449300 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who may benefit from improved immunotherapy strategies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers that do not rely on IFN-γ–driven immunity or do not respond to the studied pathway may see no benefit.
What this research studies
This project will explore how PIPKIγi5 controls how head and neck cancer cells respond to immune signals and how dendritic cells activate T cells. It uses cell-based experiments and animal models to understand the pathway and its interaction with IFN-γ and STAT1, aiming to find ways to improve responses to anti-PD-1 therapy. The researchers will test strategies to inhibit PIPKIγi5 and assess whether these strategies enhance tumor immunogenicity and antitumor immunity in vivo. The work could identify new targets to make immunotherapies work better for patients with this cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with head and neck cancer could experience stronger responses to immunotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown that modulating related signaling pathways can enhance tumor immunogenicity and response to checkpoint inhibitors.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sun, Yue — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Sun, Yue
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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.