Understanding and preventing brain toxicity in CAR-T cancer therapy
Official title: Interrogating and Targeting ICANS in CAR T-Cell Therapies
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11454984 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant tests new ways to prevent or lessen ICANS, a brain-related side effect, in patients treated with CAR-T cells for B-cell cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $465,595 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA307817-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11454984 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with B-cell malignancies treated with CAR-T therapy or those at risk of ICANS could potentially benefit from safer treatment approaches developed here.
✕Less likely to help
The study is preclinical and may not directly benefit all patients in the short term, especially those not at risk for ICANS.
What this research studies
Researchers will use human-relevant animal and lab models to study how vesicles released during CAR-T activation contribute to ICANS. They will test strategies to protect the blood-brain barrier and keep CAR-T cells effective against cancer. The work aims to identify potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets to reduce neurotoxicity while maintaining cancer control. Results could guide safer CAR-T treatments for patients with B-cell malignancies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to safer CAR-T therapies with fewer neurotoxic side effects for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked vesicle release to ICANS features in preclinical models, supporting further exploration but requiring translation to humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hamieh, Mohamad — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Hamieh, Mohamad
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.