Targeting RNF166 to prevent T-cell exhaustion in solid tumors
Official title: Targeting the E3 Ligase RNF166 to Prevent T-cell Exhaustion in Solid Tumors
Funded at Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis · NIH-11425205 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to boost cancer-fighting T cells by modulating RNF166 to keep T cells active and persistent in solid tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Little Rock, United States) |
| Project start | July 3, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $591,533 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA315781-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11425205 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with solid tumors who may be eligible for CAR-T or other adoptive T-cell therapies in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not eligible for cellular immunotherapies or those with tumors unlikely to respond to RNF166-based strategies may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how the enzyme RNF166 controls T-cell exhaustion, a barrier to effective CAR-T and other adoptive T-cell therapies in solid tumors. Researchers will map RNF166 targets, measure protein turnover, and examine how changing RNF166 levels affects T-cell behavior in mouse tumor and infection models. The work will also test whether boosting RNF166 in human CAR-T cells improves their ability to kill tumor cells in both liquid and solid cancer models. If successful, it could point to new ways to enhance immunotherapies for patients with solid tumors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from more durable and effective T-cell therapies against solid tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests modulating components of T-cell signaling can improve persistence and function, making this a promising but exploratory approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
Little Rock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koss, Brian — Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
- Study coordinator: Koss, Brian
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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.