Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) awarded the University of Southern California $137,459 under the Cancer Research Manpower program (CFDA 93.398) on June 1, 2026, for a three-year project extending through May 31, 2029. This K01 career development award supports structured training and mentored research in the development of a focused ultrasound (FUS)-based gene control system designed to enable spatially confined T cell priming within tumor microenvironments. The research will deliver three integrated research objectives: optimization of ultrasound parameters for cellular activation in three-dimensional tumor models; development and validation of synthetic gene circuits with enhanced specificity and dynamic range; and evaluation of therapeutic efficacy and safety in vivo using breast cancer models. The project aims to establish a spatially controllable, noninvasive immunotherapy platform that transforms solid tumors into precise activation zones for CAR T cell therapy.

The award supports the career development of the principal investigator through mentored training in ultrasound instrumentation, synthetic biology, and cancer immunology under the primary mentorship of Dr. Yingxiao Wang, with co-mentorship from Drs. Qifa Zhou and Bingfei Yu. The research deliverables include mechanistic studies, optimized gene circuits, and in vivo efficacy data that will establish the translational foundation for ultrasound-controlled gene and cell therapies. This training award facilitates the investigator's transition to an independent faculty position while advancing innovative approaches to address antigen heterogeneity and off-tumor toxicity limitations in CAR T cell therapy for solid tumors.