Timing-based immune maps to guide the order of immunotherapy and targeted cancer drugs
Official title: PROJECT 1: TIME-Based Spatiotemporal Cancer Immunograms Predictive for Immunotherapy-Targeted Therapy Sequential Combinations
Funded at Institute for Systems Biology · NIH-11191418 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work tests whether a short course of immunotherapy given before targeted cancer drugs helps people with cancers like BRAF‑mutant melanoma respond better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Institute for Systems Biology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $800,596 |
| NIH project number | 5U54CA274509-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11191418 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with BRAF V600–mutant melanoma and others receiving both immunotherapy and MAPK‑targeted drugs would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People whose cancers are not driven by MAPK/BRAF mutations or who are not eligible for immunotherapy or targeted agents may not benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
Researchers are studying how the timing and sequence of immunotherapy and targeted drugs changes immune activity inside tumors. In lab and animal models they give a brief immunotherapy lead‑in before targeted MAPK inhibitors and measure immune cells and tumor responses over time. They aim to build time‑based immune “maps” (immunograms) that predict which treatment order works best. Findings will be compared with clinical observations to guide future patient trials and treatment plans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors choose the best order of immunotherapy and targeted medicines to improve treatment durability and reduce brain metastases risk.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical mouse studies and some clinical data suggest prior immunotherapy can improve outcomes with targeted drugs, but human trial results have been mixed and the sequencing approach is still being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Institute for Systems Biology
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Heath, James R. — Institute for Systems Biology
- Study coordinator: Heath, James R.
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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.