Understanding how tumors and immune cells interact during cancer treatment
Official title: Tumor and Immune Cell Dynamics during Immunotherapy and Cancer Progression
Funded at Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res · NIH-10914109 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how cancer tumors and immune cells work together during treatments that help boost the immune system, with the hope of finding better ways to help patients respond to cancer therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $112,022 |
| NIH project number | 5K00CA253729-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10914109 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients undergoing immunotherapy for cancer, particularly those with tumors that may benefit from enhanced immune responses.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not receiving immunotherapy or those with cancers that do not involve immune system interactions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the interactions between tumors and immune cells during immunotherapy, particularly focusing on checkpoint blockade therapies that aim to enhance the immune response against cancer. By utilizing in vivo models, genomic technologies, and extensive patient data analysis, the research seeks to uncover how immune cells respond to treatment and the dynamics of tumor progression. The goal is to identify the origins of immune cells that effectively respond to therapy, which could lead to more effective cancer treatment strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved immunotherapy strategies that enhance patient responses to cancer treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding immune responses to cancer therapies, indicating that this approach has potential for significant advancements.
Where this research is happening
-
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yost, Kathryn Elizabeth — Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res
- Study coordinator: Yost, Kathryn Elizabeth
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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.