Understanding immune cells in oral lesions to predict cancer risk
Official title: Single-cell immune landscape in the oral dysplasia's malignant transformation
Funded at University of the Pacific-Stockton · NIH-11128775 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks closely at immune cells in oral lesions to find early signs that might tell us which ones are more likely to turn into oral cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of the Pacific-Stockton NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stockton, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $176,255 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM150790-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11128775 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is focused on understanding oral dysplasia and its progression to oral cancer, using existing tissue samples from patients who have had these conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a history of oral dysplasia or oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
We are creating a detailed map of the immune cells found in oral dysplasia, which are pre-cancerous lesions in the mouth. By using advanced imaging and machine learning on archived patient tissue samples, we hope to discover specific immune patterns. These patterns could help predict which patients with oral dysplasia are at higher risk for developing oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma, a type of oral cancer. This information could lead to better ways to identify at-risk patients and guide the development of new treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could provide new ways to predict which oral lesions are likely to become cancerous, allowing for earlier and more targeted interventions.
How similar studies have gone: This approach combines advanced imaging and machine learning in an innovative way to analyze immune features in oral dysplasia, building on existing knowledge of cancer immunology.
Where this research is happening
-
University of the Pacific-Stockton
Stockton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Han, Xiaoyuan — University of the Pacific-Stockton
- Study coordinator: Han, Xiaoyuan
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.