Why some Aspergillus molds cause infections in people on certain immune-targeting cancer drugs
Fungal Pathogenicity Determinants through the Lens of Immune-Targeted Cancer Therapies
This work looks at why Aspergillus fumigatus can cause serious lung infections in people taking certain cancer or immune-suppressing drugs like BTK inhibitors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hanover, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11267218 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will compare Aspergillus fumigatus strains taken from the environment and from patients who developed invasive aspergillosis while on immune-targeting cancer therapies. They will use laboratory tests and mouse models to find fungal traits that allow some strains to cause disease when the immune system is altered by BTK inhibitors or high-dose corticosteroids. The team will examine clinical isolates and immune responses to link what is seen in patients with mechanisms found in the lab. The goal is to identify fungal and host interactions that explain why some patients get life-threatening infections during these treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People receiving BTK inhibitor drugs for blood cancers, or those on high-dose corticosteroids or with low white blood cell counts, are the most relevant candidates for this work.
Not a fit: Healthy people without immune-suppressing therapies or patients whose infections are caused by other pathogens are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify which patients on BTK inhibitors or high-dose steroids are at higher risk for invasive aspergillosis and guide targeted prevention or treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Early patient-sample and animal studies from this team indicate strain-specific disease during BTK inhibitor therapy, so the approach builds on promising but still new findings.
Where this research is happening
Hanover, United States
- Dartmouth College — Hanover, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cramer, Robert Andrew — Dartmouth College
- Study coordinator: Cramer, Robert Andrew
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.