Using artificial cells to boost the immune response against cancer
Official title: Tri-Signal Artificial Antigen Presenting Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-10913348 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to help your immune system fight cancer by using special artificial cells that can directly activate important immune cells in your body, making treatment easier and more effective for patients like you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $48,974 |
| NIH project number | 5F31CA284859-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10913348 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients who are eligible for adoptive cellular therapy and have specific tumor types that respond to CD8+ T cell activation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers that do not involve CD8+ T cell responses or those who are not candidates for immunotherapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new type of artificial cell that can activate the immune system's CD8+ T cells directly in the body to fight cancer. By using biocompatible materials, the project aims to create a more efficient and cost-effective method for cancer immunotherapy compared to traditional approaches. The artificial antigen presenting cells (aAPCs) will be designed to deliver the necessary signals for T cell activation without the need for complex laboratory procedures. Patients may benefit from a more accessible and effective treatment option for their cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a more efficient and less expensive immunotherapy option for cancer patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using artificial antigen presenting cells for T cell activation, indicating that this approach could lead to significant advancements in cancer treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shannon, Sydney Rose — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Shannon, Sydney Rose
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Boosting immune response to fight cancer
This study is exploring a new way to help your immune system better fight cancer by tweaking certain cells in your body, and it aims to improve treatment for people with advanced cancer.
-
A center focused on immunotherapy for pediatric cancers.
This study is exploring new ways to use the body's immune system to fight childhood cancers, aiming to create better treatments for kids whose cancers haven't responded well to standard therapies.
-
Algorithms to find HLA-E neoantigens for cancer immunotherapy
Aims to develop computer methods to discover tumor-specific targets presented by HLA-E to guide new T cell therapies for cancer.
-
Immunotherapy for glioblastoma: advancing treatment and understanding
A patient-friendly summary of a grant exploring new immune-based treatments for glioblastoma to improve options for people affected by this brain cancer.
-
How CRISPR-based gene activation could shape immunotherapy responses in clear cell cancers
A research project at Stanford is using CRISPR-based gene activation to understand why some clear cell ovarian and kidney cancers respond to immunotherapy while others do not.
-
Hybrid biomaterial system to boost immunotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis
A new, patient-facing immunotherapy approach uses specialized particles to retrain the immune system to calm RA in adults.
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.