Why acute myeloid leukemia escapes the immune system
Pathways of Immune Evasion in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Researchers are working to restore exhausted T cells in people with acute myeloid leukemia so their immune systems can better fight the cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11284036 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study T cells taken from the bone marrow of people with AML to see how the leukemia suppresses immune responses. In the lab they will test whether blocking immune checkpoint molecules or changing signaling and epigenetic programs (for example MAPK or bromodomain-related pathways) can reverse T cell exhaustion. Some experiments will use animal models and patient-derived samples to connect lab findings to human disease. The goal is to find approaches that could be moved into future clinical trials for people with AML.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, especially those able to provide bone marrow or blood samples or who are treated at participating centers, would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People without AML or those who need an immediate change in their clinical care are unlikely to receive direct or immediate benefit from this laboratory-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that restore immune function and improve outcomes for people with AML.
How similar studies have performed: Immune checkpoint therapies have helped some other cancers and preclinical AML studies show T cell function can be restored in the lab, but translating these findings into effective AML treatments remains early and experimental.
Where this research is happening
Portland, United States
- Oregon Health & Science University — Portland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lind, Evan Ferguson — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Lind, Evan Ferguson
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 below.