Understanding how the immune system responds to certain cancer treatments
Official title: An RNA-Dependent Innate Immune Response Pathway to Base-Damaging Chemotherapeutics
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11056866 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how the body's natural defense system responds to certain cancer treatments, specifically focusing on how damage to RNA affects this response, with the goal of finding better ways to help patients during chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $489,536 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA282733-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11056866 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients undergoing treatment with alkylating agents for various types of cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not receiving alkylating agents or those with non-cancerous conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the innate immune system reacts to alkylating agents, which are commonly used in cancer chemotherapy. It focuses on the role of RNA damage and the signaling pathways activated in response to these treatments. By studying the mechanisms involved, including the role of specific proteins and RNA processing, the research aims to uncover how these immune responses can influence cancer cell survival and death. This could lead to improved therapeutic strategies for patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy by leveraging the immune response to improve cancer treatment outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding immune responses to cancer therapies, suggesting that this approach could yield significant insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mosammaparast, Nima — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Mosammaparast, Nima
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.