Project Grant R01CA314365

Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Florida Division of Sponsored Research received a $502,391 Project Grant award from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) under the Cancer Treatment Research program (CFDA 93.395), effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031. The award supports development and preclinical evaluation of RNA-loaded nanoparticle aggregates (RNA-LPAs)—multilamellar, onion-like messenger RNA lipid-nanoparticle formulations designed to function as a novel mRNA vaccine for glioblastoma treatment. The research deliverables include characterization of RNA-LPA immunological mechanisms, optimization of nanoparticle aggregation parameters to enhance cellular uptake efficiency, and demonstration of systemic immunity activation through stromal cell engagement rather than conventional dendritic cell targeting approaches.

The project advances cancer immunotherapy by investigating how RNA-LPA systemic administration simultaneously reprograms the tumor microenvironment while inducing antigen-specific T-cell responses in glioblastoma models. Key research outputs will clarify the role of toll-like receptors and pathogen recognition receptors in RNA-LPA-mediated immunity, characterize peripheral mononuclear blood cell recruitment patterns, and validate alternative mechanisms for nanoparticle-based cancer vaccine delivery that challenge existing paradigms in dendritic cell-dependent immunotherapy approaches. The five-year funding period supports fundamental and applied laboratory research aligned with NCI's objective to develop improved cancer treatment methodologies.