Targeting the tumor-immune interface to beat Richter’s transformation in CLL
Official title: Attacking the Tumor Cell-Immune Milieu Interface to Overcome Richter's Transformation
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11541781 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A NIH-funded project at Columbia University aims to understand and block how chronic lymphocytic leukemia progresses to a more deadly form, with the goal of guiding better treatments for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | December 16, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $607,354 |
| NIH project number | 7R01CA283171-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11541781 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who are at risk of Richter’s transformation or have RT-like biology may benefit from future treatments informed by this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without CLL or RT-related disease are unlikely to directly benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how cancer cells and the immune environment interact during Richter’s transformation, using a new mouse model that mimics this progression. The project focuses on the roles of MYC signaling and related metabolic changes to identify points where therapy could more effectively combine targeted drugs with immune-based approaches. By building and characterizing models and resources necessary to study this disease, the team hopes to pave the way for new treatment strategies for patients with CLL who are at risk of RT.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better-tailored therapies that prevent or delay Richter’s transformation and extend survival for patients with CLL.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research supports that targeting the MYC pathway and tumor-immune interactions can influence lymphoid cancers, but RT-specific models and therapies remain in early stages.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Lili — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Wang, Lili
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.