Understanding how immune cells fight cancer
Project 2 - Modulation of Tumor-Induced Tolerance by Inhibitory Receptors
This research explores how certain signals on immune cells, called T cells, affect their ability to fight cancer, aiming to improve treatments like CAR T cell therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11106591 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our immune system's T cells have natural 'brakes' called inhibitory receptors (IRs) like PD1 and LAG3, which can stop them from attacking cancer effectively. This project aims to understand how these brakes work together in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to create a state of 'tolerance' where the immune system doesn't attack the tumor. By studying these mechanisms in detail, we hope to find new ways to release these brakes and boost the T cells' ability to destroy cancer cells. This work could lead to more effective immunotherapies and CAR T cell treatments for patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is relevant to patients with various cancers who might benefit from immunotherapies or CAR T cell treatments in the future.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate clinical trials or direct treatment options would not directly benefit from this basic science project, as it focuses on understanding fundamental biological mechanisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for cancer immunotherapy, making existing treatments more effective and potentially developing new ones by better understanding how to activate the immune system against tumors.
How similar studies have performed: Targeting inhibitory receptors like PD1 has already shown significant success in cancer immunotherapy, but this project aims to uncover deeper, synergistic mechanisms that are not yet fully understood.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vignali, Dario Aa — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Vignali, Dario Aa
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.