Using nanoscale technologies to improve cancer immunotherapy
Official title: Combinatorial application of nanoscale technologies to target a novel mechanism of immune evasion by cancer cells
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11123358 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to make cancer immunotherapy work better for patients by using special immune cells and tiny technologies to help those cells stay strong and fight the cancer more effectively.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | June 21, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $690,825 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA293908-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11123358 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with acute B-lymphocytic leukemia or other cancers characterized by low levels of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers that do not involve immune evasion mechanisms or those who are not eligible for immunotherapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a novel approach to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy for cancer patients. It focuses on overcoming a significant barrier where many tumors lack immune cells that can attack them, known as being immunologically barren. The researchers aim to develop a treatment that combines engineered immune cells with advanced nanoscale technologies to prevent cancer cells from depleting these immune cells' energy sources. By delivering mitochondria to immune cells and inhibiting cancer cells' ability to harvest them, the study seeks to improve patient responses to immunotherapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective cancer treatments that enable a greater number of patients to respond positively to immunotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using similar nanoscale technologies to enhance immunotherapy, indicating potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sengupta, Shiladitya — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Sengupta, Shiladitya
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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.