This Project Grant award from the National Cancer Institute (CFDA 93.398 - Cancer Research Manpower) provides $364,848 to Vanderbilt University to design and test a biomaterial therapy that locally delivers a RIG-I agonist, 5'-triphosphorylated double-stranded RNA, via a polymeric nanocarrier to elicit a pro-inflammatory response in mouse models of glioblastoma (GBM). The goal is to activate the RIG-I pathway to enhance CD8+ T cell infiltration into GBM tumors, which have demonstrated resistance to immune checkpoint blockade therapies. The project aims to 1) engineer the RIG-I activating nanoparticles and 2) determine their immunological consequences, with a focus on evaluating immune cell frequency, activation state, and memory T cell formation in the tumor and brain. This research seeks to improve the understanding of RIG-I activation in GBM and the brain's response to pH-responsive polymers, which could inform the development of future immunotherapies for this deadly form of brain cancer.
Mod # | Description | Reason For Modification | Federal Obligation (Click to sort descending) | Date (Click to sort ascending) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not listed | $74.3k | 5/14/25 | ||
| Not listed | $0 | 5/7/24 | ||
| Not listed | $4.7k | 5/7/24 | ||
| Not listed | $4.7k | 5/7/24 | ||
| Not listed | $0 | 5/7/24 |