Understanding how immune cells recognize cancer cells
Official title: MATCHMAKERS
Funded at Netherlands Cancer Institute · NIH-11042287 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring how certain immune cells recognize cancer markers, which could help create better treatments for patients with cancer by personalizing immunotherapy to target their specific tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Netherlands Cancer Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amsterdam, Netherlands) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $167,757 |
| NIH project number | 1OT2CA297206-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11042287 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with various types of cancer who may benefit from targeted immunotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-cancerous conditions or those who do not have a suitable TCR-pMHC match may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how T cell receptors (TCRs) identify tumor antigens presented by MHC molecules, which is crucial for developing effective immunotherapies for cancer. By leveraging advanced machine learning techniques and extensive datasets of TCR-pMHC pairs, the project aims to create accurate predictive models for TCR-antigen recognition. The research involves collaboration among experts in immunology, structural biology, and computational methods to enhance our understanding of immune responses to cancer. Patients may benefit from improved immunotherapy strategies that are tailored to their specific tumor antigens.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and personalized cancer immunotherapies for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using machine learning to enhance immunotherapy, indicating that this approach could be a significant advancement in the field.
Where this research is happening
-
Netherlands Cancer Institute
Amsterdam, Netherlands Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schumacher, Ton — Netherlands Cancer Institute
- Study coordinator: Schumacher, Ton
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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.