Understanding how cancer and its surroundings react to combination immunotherapy
Interrogating the response of the tumor microenvironment to combination immunotherapy using a microfluidic platform
This work explores how cancer cells and their environment respond to different immunotherapy combinations, using tiny tissue samples outside the body.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11081755 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Cancer cells are always interacting with other cells and molecules around them, forming what's called the tumor microenvironment. These interactions are very complex and can either help fight the cancer or help it grow, sometimes even making treatments less effective. Our goal is to better understand these complex interactions, especially how they influence a tumor's response to combination immunotherapies. We are developing new ways to test drug responses in human tumor tissues outside the body, which helps us learn why some treatments work and others don't. This approach aims to speed up the discovery of new and more effective cancer treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is relevant to patients with cancer who may eventually benefit from improved immunotherapy strategies.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate direct treatment or clinical trial participation would not directly benefit from this early-stage laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a better understanding of drug resistance, help identify new targets for cancer therapies, and accelerate the development of more effective combination immunotherapies for patients.
How similar studies have performed: While the overall approach of studying tumor microenvironments is established, this grant focuses on developing novel quantitative technologies and platforms to accelerate drug discovery, addressing current limitations in drug testing tools.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Folch, Albert — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Folch, Albert
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 below.