This Cooperative Agreement award issued by the National Cancer Institute (CFDA 93.396 - Cancer Biology Research) provides funding of $767,324 to the Van Andel Research Institute (VAI) to investigate how dietary factors, particularly caloric restriction and ketone body metabolism, can influence anti-tumor immunity mediated by CD8 T cells.
The key objectives are to: 1) Determine how dietary fats impact anti-tumor T cell responses under caloric restriction conditions; 2) Evaluate how caloric restriction differentially controls T cell metabolism in the tumor microenvironment; and 3) Define how caloric restriction influences CD8 T cell fate decisions, boosting functional effector T cells and reducing dysfunctional "exhausted" T cells. This 5-year research project aims to provide insights into diet-regulated mechanisms linking nutrient availability, T cell function, and cancer progression, with the potential to enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies.
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