Using focused ultrasound to enhance cancer immunotherapy
Official title: Harnessing the therapeutic potential of histotripsy focused ultrasound-induced immunogenic cancer cell death
Funded at Van Andel Research Institute · NIH-11089435 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a special ultrasound treatment can help the immune system spot and fight hard-to-detect cancers, like pancreatic cancer, by making the tumors more visible, which could lead to better results for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Van Andel Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Grand Rapids, United States) |
| Project start | August 3, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $496,811 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA269394-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11089435 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with cancers that are poorly recognized by the immune system, such as pancreatic cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers that are already effectively treated by existing immunotherapies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how focused ultrasound can be used to make certain cancers more recognizable to the immune system, particularly those that typically evade detection, like pancreatic cancer. By employing a technique called histotripsy, which non-invasively disrupts cancer cells, the study aims to trigger strong immune responses that could lead to the regression of tumors not directly treated. The approach focuses on understanding how this method can stimulate the immune system to attack cancer more effectively, potentially leading to improved outcomes for patients with hard-to-treat cancers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy for patients with cancers that are currently difficult to treat.
How similar studies have gone: There is growing evidence that similar approaches using focused ultrasound have shown promise in enhancing immune responses against tumors.
Where this research is happening
-
Van Andel Research Institute
Grand Rapids, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cho, Clifford — Van Andel Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Cho, Clifford
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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.