Understanding how T cell receptors affect pancreatic cancer immunotherapy
Official title: Elucidating properties of T cell receptors that govern pancreatic cancer immunotherapy response
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11464861 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A cancer research grant is exploring how specific T cells recognize pancreatic cancer and how that recognition might predict or improve responses to immunotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $650,590 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA318724-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11464861 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who may have actionable T cell responses or who could contribute samples for TCR and tumor analyses.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not express relevant antigens or who are not enrolled in any immunotherapy protocols may see limited or no direct benefit.
What this research studies
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is very hard to treat, partly because its tumor environment suppresses immune attack. This project looks at the T cell receptors (TCRs) on tumor-fighting T cells to understand what makes them effective against pancreatic cancer. By studying how TCRs interact with their targets in the tumor, researchers aim to uncover features that correlate with better immunotherapy responses. The work combines human biology with experimental models to pinpoint which TCR characteristics could lead to more durable therapies for patients with PDA.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide the development of more effective immunotherapies for pancreatic cancer and help identify which patients are most likely to benefit.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research shows that TCR features can influence immunotherapy outcomes, but this project addresses gaps specific to pancreatic cancer and TCR-pMHC interactions.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stromnes, Ingunn Margarete — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Stromnes, Ingunn Margarete
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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.