NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Using microfluidic technology to isolate cancer-fighting T-cells from blood

Official title: Microfluidic technology to isolate tumoricidal T-cells from peripheral blood

Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-10896126 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is working on a new way to make cancer treatment better by using a special device to find and prepare the best T-cells from your blood to fight your specific cancer, so you can have a more effective and personalized therapy.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California at Davis
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Davis, United States)
Project startAugust 1, 2023
Project endJuly 31, 2026
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$213,827
NIH project number5R61CA278531-02
Project IDNIH-10896126 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients who are undergoing or considering adoptive cell transfer therapy.

Less likely to help

Patients who do not have tumors or those whose cancers are not amenable to T-cell therapies may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on improving adoptive cell transfer therapy, which uses a patient's own T-cells to fight cancer. The team aims to develop a microfluidic device that can efficiently separate tumoricidal T-cells from a larger population of blood cells. By exposing these T-cells to specific tumor antigens under controlled conditions, the researchers hope to enhance the effectiveness of this personalized treatment. This approach could lead to better outcomes for patients by ensuring that the T-cells used in therapy are specifically targeted to their tumors.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and personalized cancer treatments for patients.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using similar technologies for isolating specific T-cell populations, indicating potential for success in this approach.

Where this research is happening

  • University of California at Davis
    Davis, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Shirure, Venktesh — University of California at Davis
  • Study coordinator: Shirure, Venktesh

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About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.