Using RNA editing to create new cancer targets for immunotherapy
Official title: Inducing Tumor Neoantigens Through RNA Editing for Cancer Immunotherapy
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-10893482 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to help your immune system recognize and fight tumors that usually don't respond well to current treatments, by making them more visible to your body's defenses, which could lead to better results for patients like you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $183,782 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA277414-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10893482 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with immunologically cold tumors, such as certain types of breast cancer, that have low mutational burdens.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with tumors that are already responsive to existing immunotherapies may not receive additional benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how RNA editing can induce the expression of neoantigens in tumors, particularly those that are typically resistant to current immunotherapies. By enhancing the visibility of these tumors to the immune system, the study aims to improve the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors, which are treatments that help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. The research will involve analyzing tumor cells and immune responses to understand how these induced neoantigens can lead to better patient outcomes. Patients may benefit from this innovative approach if it successfully increases immune response against their tumors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new treatment option for patients with tumors that are currently difficult to treat with existing immunotherapies.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results using similar RNA editing approaches to enhance immune responses in cancer treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hubbell, Jeffrey a. — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Hubbell, Jeffrey a.
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.