Vaccines Targeting Cancer Markers with Immunotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer
Official title: Neoantigen-Targeted Vaccines in Combination with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Pancreatic Cancer
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11115878 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores combining special vaccines with existing immunotherapies to help the body's immune system fight pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $179,834 |
| NIH project number | 5K08CA248624-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11115878 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with pancreatic cancer whose tumors do not respond well to current immune checkpoint inhibitors might be ideal candidates for future clinical applications of this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancers already respond well to existing immune checkpoint inhibitors or those with different cancer types may not directly benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are effective for some cancers, but many, including pancreatic cancer, do not respond well because they lack the necessary immune cells. This research focuses on developing vaccines that target unique markers on cancer cells, called neoantigens, which are specific to the tumor. The goal is for these vaccines to attract high-quality T cells to the tumor, essentially turning 'cold' tumors into 'hot' ones. By making the cancer more visible to the immune system, this approach aims to make it more responsive to existing immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make immune checkpoint inhibitors effective for more patients with pancreatic cancer, potentially leading to better treatment outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies in mice have shown promising results, where similar neoantigen-targeted vaccines combined with immune modulators cleared tumors and improved survival.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zaidi, Neeha — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Zaidi, Neeha
Related research
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Exosome-based microRNA biomarkers for early detection of pancreatic cancer
A patient-friendly look at a study using tiny blood-based RNA markers inside exosomes to catch pancreatic cancer early without invasive procedures.
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.