Wild-like mice to better mirror human immune responses in cancer and immunotherapy
Official title: Sequential infection of laboratory mice for enhanced cancer and immunotherapy translation
Funded at University Health Network · NIH-11378589 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A grant to develop lab-made “wild-like” mice that have adult-like immune systems to improve how well mouse studies predict human cancer and immune therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University Health Network NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Toronto, Canada) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $138,848 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA296062-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378589 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to a specific patient group; this is a mouse-model advancement intended to improve future human studies.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit is not part of this grant, as it focuses on animal models.
What this research studies
Researchers will create lab-generated mice with an adult-type immune system similar to humans by teaching their immune systems through controlled exposure to microbiota and infections. The project aims to overcome limitations of standard SPF mice, making cancer and immunotherapy experiments more translatable. If successful, this approach could lead to more reliable preclinical results and faster progress toward effective human treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could improve the relevance of preclinical cancer research and accelerate development of effective immunotherapies for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows improved translatability with more adult-like immune systems in mice, but wider adoption and practical strategies remain developing.
Where this research is happening
-
University Health Network
Toronto, Canada Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brooks, David G — University Health Network
- Study coordinator: Brooks, David G
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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.