Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) awarded Harvard College's Office for Sponsored Programs a Project Grant of $604,102 under the Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research Program (CFDA 93.394) to develop innovative three-dimensional (3D) bioprinted vascular cancer models. The five-year project, which commenced May 1, 2026 and concludes April 30, 2031, will deliver in vitro human and murine cancer models utilizing microporous embedded printing technology to enable detailed study of T cell trafficking, immune cell activation, and tumor microenvironment dynamics. These bioprinted models will incorporate vascular conduits for immune cell entry, stromal compartments that facilitate T cell migration, and central tumor compartments composed of either murine melanoma or HLA-matched human melanoma cells derived from the same patient.

The project will generate two primary research products: (1) validated murine and human 3D cancer models that replicate key aspects of human tumor immunobiology not captured in traditional preclinical approaches, and (2) evidence-based findings regarding how matrix viscoelasticity impacts dendritic cell and T cell interactions within tumors and how activation niches influence T cell phenotype and cytotoxic function. The models will be further evaluated for their capacity to predict responses to checkpoint blockade immunotherapy. By completing these specific aims, the research will advance the field's understanding of T cell dysfunction and poor tumor penetration, providing a translational tool to support cancer immunotherapy development.