Characterizing the prognostic and predictive role of immune cell population changes induced by neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibition in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

The Johns Hopkins University will receive $334,652 under a three-year Project Grant award from the Defense Health Agency to characterize the prognostic and predictive role of immune cell population changes induced by neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibition in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. The grant is funded through the Military Medical Research and Development program (CFDA 12.420), which supports biomedical research to transform military and public health care through innovative solutions for battlefield medicine and other areas. Specifically, the University will investigate medical solutions for kidney cancer by conducting research into how immune cells are affected by a type of immunotherapy known as PD-1 inhibition when used before surgery to remove renal cell carcinoma tumors. Insights from this research could help providers understand and potentially improve the outcomes of immunotherapy for kidney cancer patients.