Understanding brain-metastasis CD8+ T cells and how they fight cancer in the brain
Official title: Characterization of brain metastasis-specific CD8+ T cells
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11391292 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how a special type of immune cells, CD8+ T cells, behaves inside brain tumors to find ways to improve immune-based cancer therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | August 9, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $132,549 |
| NIH project number | 5K08AI166837-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11391292 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with brain metastases or those contributing brain tumor tissue samples may be eligible for related studies or future trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without brain metastases or without access to brain tissue samples may not directly benefit from this specific project.
What this research studies
CD8+ T cells can kill cancer cells, but they can become “exhausted” and less effective, especially in the brain. The project aims to map the different CD8+ T cell types present in brain metastases and understand their gene activity. By using human brain tumor samples and mouse models, the research will explore how these T cells respond to immune therapies and identify targets to boost their tumor-killing power in the brain. This work could inform the development of more effective treatments for patients with brain metastases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to better immunotherapies that work in the brain and improve survival for patients with brain metastases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown distinct CD8+ T cell populations in brain tumors and some responses to immunotherapy, but brain-specific transcriptional profiles are still being defined.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sudmeier, Lisa — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Sudmeier, Lisa
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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.