Using JAK inhibitors to calm autoimmune damage from cancer immunotherapy
Official title: Leveraging JAK Inhibitors to Halt Autoimmune Attack Induced by Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11426254 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A multi-center, early-phase trial will test whether a JAK inhibitor can help people who develop diabetes caused by cancer immunotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,183,663 |
| NIH project number | 1U01AI201291-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11426254 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with recent-onset ICI-induced diabetes who are undergoing cancer immunotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with long-standing or non-immune-related diabetes may not benefit.
What this research studies
People being treated for solid cancers who develop immune-related diabetes may have a new option. The study will give baricitinib for 12 weeks and monitor insulin production, blood sugar control, and safety. Researchers will also look at how the treatment affects the immune system and whether any patient differences explain outcomes. The trial is open-label and single-arm, focusing on patients who recently developed ICI-DM.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could preserve insulin production and improve diabetes management for patients receiving cancer immunotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data and safety data in other contexts support exploring JAK inhibitors for immune-related diabetes, but direct trials in ICI-DM are limited.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lechner, Melissa G — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Lechner, Melissa G
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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.