Grants Search Results

The survival rates for children with cancer remains unacceptable and the treatments for childhood cancers continue to carry significant life-altering side effects as most treatments do not specifically recognize cancer cells and affect healthy cells. Dr. Guerra and colleagues are developing a therapy created from the white blood cells of a patient's own immune system, known as immunotherapy. These cells are engineered to target cancer cells by engaging a marker that is present on the surface of cancer cells but not present on healthy cells. When the engineered white blood cells engage this cancer-specific marker, the cells become activated and attack the cancer cells while sparing healthy cells. Additionally, this immunotherapy can be boosted with further engineering approaches to remain active in a patient for long periods of time, allowing for long-term killing of cancer cells which we predict will improve survival while reducing treatment-related side effects.

This grant is funded by Allied World, a global provider of insurance and reinsurance solutions.