Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) awarded the University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. a $644,452 Project Grant on March 1, 2026, under the Oral Diseases and Disorders Research program (CFDA 93.121). This five-year award, with completion scheduled for February 28, 2031, funds the development of engineered synthetic low-density lipoprotein (LDL) nanoparticles encapsulated with 7-dehydrocholesterol (7DHC-LDLs) as an adjuvant nanotechnology to enhance cancer immunotherapy efficacy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The research addresses a significant clinical gap wherein only 15-20% of HNSCC patients respond to immune checkpoint inhibitor treatments, despite FDA approval of pembrolizumab and nivolumab for recurrent and metastatic disease.

The funded research will generate therapeutic innovations designed to promote intratumoral dendritic cell maturation and migration while triggering ferroptotic cell death through lipid peroxidation. By leveraging the high propensity of natural LDLs to accumulate in tumors via upregulated LDL receptors, the 7DHC-LDL nanoparticles are expected to amplify reactive oxygen species-induced cellular damage and release danger-associated molecular patterns that activate anti-tumor immunity. This translational research initiative directly supports NIDCR's mission to advance prevention, detection, and treatment strategies for oral and craniofacial health, with the ultimate objective of enhancing tumor sensitivity to immunotherapy when used in combination with existing immune checkpoint inhibitors.