Understanding how tumor cells sense nucleic acids to influence immune responses against cancer
Official title: Delineating how nucleic acid sensing in tumorcells regulate anti-tumor immune responses
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11085254 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how cancer cells sense their own genetic material and how that affects the body's immune response to fight cancer, with the goal of finding better ways to boost cancer treatments that use the immune system.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | May 8, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $379,690 |
| NIH project number | 5P01CA265794-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11085254 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with cancers that exhibit chromosomal instability and may benefit from immunotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers that do not involve significant DNA damage responses or chromosomal instability may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how tumor cells detect nucleic acids and how this detection affects the immune system's response to cancer. It focuses on the role of specific pathways activated by DNA damage in cancer cells, which can either promote or inhibit anti-tumor immunity. By studying these mechanisms, the research aims to uncover how to enhance the effectiveness of cancer therapies that rely on the immune system. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to improved immunotherapy strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective cancer treatments by harnessing the immune system to fight tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding immune responses to DNA damage in cancer, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Haldar, Malay — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Haldar, Malay
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.