Using specially designed immune cells to fight solid tumors
Official title: Targeting off-the-shelf iPSC-derived natural killer cells against solid tumors
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11162408 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research aims to create powerful, ready-to-use immune cells from stem cells to target and destroy advanced solid tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $928,524 |
| NIH project number | 5R35CA283892-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11162408 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with advanced solid tumors, including those in the brain, who may have limited treatment options could potentially benefit from future clinical applications of this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage cancers or those whose tumors are not solid might not directly benefit from this specific type of immune cell therapy.
What this research studies
Our bodies have natural killer (NK) cells, a type of immune cell that can fight cancer. This project focuses on developing a new kind of NK cell therapy using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which are special cells that can be grown into many different cell types. We are designing these iPSC-derived NK cells to be even more effective at recognizing and attacking solid tumors, similar to how certain NK cells respond after a common viral infection. The goal is to create a supply of these powerful immune cells that can be used for many patients with advanced cancers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a new and more effective immunotherapy option for patients with advanced solid tumors, including brain tumors.
How similar studies have gone: The researcher has a long history of leading clinical efforts in NK cell immunotherapy, and this work builds upon their established iPSC-derived NK cell platform, which has shown promising lab results.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Miller, Jeffrey S. — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Miller, Jeffrey S.
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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.