Understanding how certain T cells behave during cancer vaccine responses
Official title: Lymphoid residency of Tcf-1+ CD8+ T cells during tumor vaccine responses
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Science Center · NIH-11026394 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at special T cells that help fight cancer to see why they sometimes get stuck in lymph nodes instead of reaching tumors, with the goal of finding better ways to improve cancer vaccines and treatments for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Science Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | February 5, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $428,354 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI177345-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11026394 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with advanced cancer who are undergoing or considering tumor immunotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage cancer or those not receiving immunotherapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the behavior of specific T cells, known as stem-like T cells, during responses to cancer vaccines. It aims to understand how these T cells, which are crucial for fighting tumors, can become trapped in lymph nodes and lose their ability to migrate to tumors. By studying the relationship between these T cells and their environment, the research seeks to improve current cancer immunotherapies and develop new strategies for enhancing patient responses to treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective cancer vaccines that provide longer-lasting benefits for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in understanding T cell behavior in cancer immunotherapy, making this approach both relevant and potentially impactful.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Science Center
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Nu — University of Texas Hlth Science Center
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Nu
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.