Project Grant R21AI199951

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology $281,620 on July 21, 2026, under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) to develop novel anti-LAG3 nanobodies for inflammation regulation and cancer immunotherapy.

The project addresses T cell exhaustion in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes by targeting lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG3), an inhibitory co-receptor that facilitates exhaustion of cytotoxic T cells and maintains immunosuppressive function in regulatory T cells. Current immune checkpoint blockade targeting PD1 and CTLA4 shows variable clinical response rates and intrinsic resistance in many tumor types. The Wistar Institute's preliminary data demonstrate that T cell-specific LAG3 deficiency elicits robust anti-tumor immunity in lung metastasis and subcutaneous melanoma models. Under this award, the Institute will develop a novel class of anti-LAG3 nanobodies with enhanced specificity and efficacy over conventional antibodies, leveraging nanobodies' superior stability and other advantages.

The award supports performance in Atlanta, Georgia, with a period of performance through June 30, 2028. This is a Project Grant, the standard assistance type for hypothesis-driven research under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program.