NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Understanding how skin cancer-associated fibroblasts affect immune detection in early mycosis fungoides

Official title: Investigating the Role of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Immunodetection of Mycosis Fungoides

Funded at Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope · NIH-11617656 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This grant investigates how certain skin cells in early mycosis fungoides might help the cancer hide from the immune system, with findings aiming to improve future patient care.

More Mycosis Fungoides research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBeckman Research Institute/city of Hope
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Duarte, United States)
Project startSeptember 23, 2026
Project endAugust 31, 2029
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$249,000
NIH project number4R00AR084575-03
Project IDNIH-11617656 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Patients with early to progressing mycosis fungoides or MF undergoing tissue sampling, from diverse demographic backgrounds.

Less likely to help

Patients without MF or those not contributing tissue samples may not directly benefit.

What this research studies

The project uses advanced lab methods to study skin samples from MF patients at different stages and backgrounds. Researchers will perform single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial RNA transcriptomics to map CAF subtypes and their locations. They will connect these cellular patterns to how the disease progresses and how patients’ demographics may influence these processes. The training plan includes mentorship and hands-on experience in molecular techniques and computational analysis to translate these insights into potential biomarkers.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify reasons why MF advances and reveal targets for therapies that restore immune detection.

How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show CAFs influence tumor environments, but this project expands to MF with advanced single-cell and spatial methods for diverse populations.

Where this research is happening

  • Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
    Duarte, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Johnson, Courtney Michele — Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
  • Study coordinator: Johnson, Courtney Michele

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.