Testing new cancer vaccines made from silicified cells
Official title: Preclinical Efficacy of Allogeneic and Human Silicified Cancer Vaccines
Funded at University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr · NIH-10864698 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to help treat cancer by using special cancer cells that can't grow but still show the immune system what to fight, which could lead to better and more reliable cancer vaccines for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $356,469 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA282618-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10864698 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with various types of cancer, particularly those who may benefit from innovative vaccine therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not currently undergoing cancer treatment or those with non-cancerous conditions may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a novel approach to cancer treatment using silicified cancer cells that retain their structure and protein features while being non-viable. These cells are designed to activate the immune system by presenting antigens without the immune-suppressive properties of traditional cancer vaccines. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of these allogeneic cancer vaccines in preclinical models, potentially leading to more effective and stable cancer treatments. By using silicified cells, the research hopes to improve the therapeutic efficacy of cancer vaccines compared to previous methods.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and accessible cancer vaccines that enhance the immune response against tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies using autologous and allogeneic irradiated tumor cell vaccines have shown safety but limited efficacy, making this approach novel and potentially groundbreaking.
Where this research is happening
-
University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
Albuquerque, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Serda, Rita Elena — University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
- Study coordinator: Serda, Rita Elena
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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.