Award
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research 5R01DE032018-05
Harnessing the nervous system to overcome resistance to immunotherapy in oral cancer
Recipient
University of TX MD Anderson Cancer Center
Award Amount
$678,424.00
Ceiling
$678,424.00
Awarded
June 16, 2026
Identifier
5R01DE032018-05
Research grant to study neuronal mechanisms in oral cancer to overcome immunotherapy resistance by investigating tumor-associated neurons and their impact on immune response.
Description
This project aims to elucidate the neuronal mechanisms supporting tumor progression and immune evasion in oral cancer. It focuses on the role of tumor-associated neurons (TANs) in modulating immune responses and promoting immunosuppression within the tumor microenvironment. The research will investigate how reprogrammed neurons influence cytotoxic T-cell activity and identify miRNAs involved in TAN reprogramming, with the goal of developing novel therapeutic strategies to overcome immunotherapy resistance.