Grants and Contributions:
Title:
Breaking the solid tumour barrier with mesothelin-specific CAR-T cells and engineered cytokine signaling to enable effective, safe and affordable cancer therapy.
Agreement Number:
1020483
Agreement Value:
$400,000.00
Agreement Date:
Oct 20, 2024 - Mar 31, 2026
Description:
Immunotherapy has yielded disappointing results against ovarian cancer, prompting the need for bold new approaches. Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cells have proven phenomenally successful against blood cancers but show poor efficacy against solid tumours. The NRC has created a nanobody-based, mesothelin-specific CAR (MesoCAR) to treat ovarian, pancreatic and other cancers. With Innovakine Therapeutics, the PI has developed an engineered cytokine receptor system that enables potent, clinician-controlled amplification of T cell responses in vivo. It is proposed to combine these technologies to create a Canadian-made CAR-T cell product that is safe, effective and affordable for the treatment of ovarian cancer. The project will engage in pre-clinical studies to assess the efficacy, safety and mechanistic features of this innovative therapeutic strategy and to develop cost-effective manufacturing methods for future clinical use. The project team is well-positioned to advance this world-first approach to early-stage, near-term clinical trials for the benefit of ovarian cancer patients.
Organization:
National Research Council Canada
Expected Results:
In the short term, anticipated outcomes will be strengthened collaborations across industry, academia, and government to support research excellence. In the medium term, anticipated outcomes will be the development of new and potentially disruptive technologies with collaborators. In the long term, find collaborative solutions to public policy challenges and create stronger innovation systems.
Location:
Vancouver, British Columbia, CA V5Z 1L3
Reference Number:
172-2024-2025-Q3-1020483
Agreement Type:
Grant
Report Type:
Grants and Contributions
Recipient Business Number:
863530135
Recipient Type:
Not-for-profit organization or charity
Recipient's Legal Name:
BC Cancer, part of the Provincial Health Services Authority
Federal Riding Name:
Vancouver Granville
Federal Riding Number:
59038
Program:
Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation Program - Collaborative R&D Initiatives
Program Purpose:
Collaborate on multiparty research and development programs to catalyze transformative, high-risk, high-reward research with the potential for game-changing scientific discoveries and technological breakthroughs in priority areas.
NAICS Code:
541710