Project Grant R37CA315256

The National Cancer Institute awarded $416,468 in Project Grant funding to the University of Massachusetts (Award Date: June 26, 2026; Completion Date: May 31, 2031) under the Cancer Treatment Research program (CFDA 93.395) to develop a novel cancer immunotherapy vaccine approach. The primary deliverable is the research and development of dual-adjuvant, dual-delivery nanoparticles designed to overcome critical barriers in cancer vaccination. The nanoparticles incorporate two synergistic adjuvants to enhance immune responses and employ a "prime-pull" delivery strategy—priming immune activation in lymph nodes while simultaneously targeting tumors—thereby combining traditional vaccine and in situ vaccine functionalities. Using metastatic melanoma as a test-bed disease model, the research aims to generate scientific findings and technological innovations that address the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and improve T-cell infiltration and sustained activation.

The project centers on translating pathogen-inspired immunological principles into a practical cancer therapeutic platform. Expected deliverables include preclinical research data, nanoparticle formulations, immunological efficacy assessments, and foundational knowledge to advance cancer immunotherapy. This research contributes to the broader Cancer Treatment Research program objective of developing improved cancer treatment methods through fundamental and applied laboratory research in biological therapy modalities, with particular emphasis on molecularly targeted and innovative immunological approaches.