Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Pennsylvania received a $668,864 Project Grant award from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) under the Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research Program (CFDA 93.394) to develop predictive biomarkers and identify resistance mechanisms for glioblastoma (GBM) patients undergoing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell immunotherapy. The research program will utilize patient-matched GBM organoids—three-dimensional tumor models that preserve the genetic, transcriptional, and cellular heterogeneity of primary tumors—to establish clinical validation of biomarkers capable of predicting individual patient responses to CAR T cell therapy. By leveraging ongoing clinical trial data and advanced single-cell multi-omic genomic technologies, the research aims to characterize tumor populations that may be resistant to treatment, thereby enabling more informed therapeutic decision-making and improved patient outcomes.

The award, effective June 15, 2026, through May 31, 2031, addresses the critical clinical need to understand the significant variability in GBM patient responses to CAR T cell therapy, including cases of incomplete tumor eradication and disease recurrence. The project integrates in vitro organoid-based testing with clinical trial correlations to systematically dissect the biological complexity underlying treatment response and resistance, ultimately advancing the development of precision medicine approaches for this aggressive malignancy.