Understanding how T cell receptors recognize tumor antigens
Official title: MATCHMAKERS: SOLVING TCR RECOGNITION AND DESIGN VIA INTEGRATED HIGH-THROUGHPUT SCREENING, STRUCTURAL, FUNCTIONAL, AND COMPUTATIONAL APPROACHES
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11042610 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring how our immune system's T cells recognize cancer markers, with the goal of making cancer treatments more effective, and it's designed for anyone interested in improving immunotherapy for cancer patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $214,343 |
| NIH project number | 1OT2CA297242-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11042610 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with various types of cancers who may benefit from targeted immunotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-malignant conditions or those not eligible for immunotherapy may not receive benefits 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 enhancing immunotherapy effectiveness. By combining machine learning with extensive data on TCR-pMHC pairs, the project aims to develop accurate predictors of TCR-antigen recognition. The research involves generating large datasets from both human and mouse models and utilizing advanced molecular engineering techniques to improve TCR matching. This integrated approach seeks to advance our understanding of immune responses to cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective immunotherapies for cancer patients by improving the design of T cell therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using machine learning and structural data to enhance immunotherapy, indicating a potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Garcia, Kenan Christopher — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Garcia, Kenan Christopher
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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.