Fred Hutch Cancer Center researchers developing immunotherapies using engineered adaptive immune system cells have received over $4 million in research grants from the Washington Research Foundation (WRF). The foundation’s 2023 strategic plan included increased support for “large-scale emergent opportunities in life sciences research” within Washington state, according to the foundation’s October 22 announcement of the funding grants. Fred Hutch scientists will use the awards to advance a range of immunotherapies for diseases including Merkel cell carcinoma, osteosarcoma and solid tumor cancers.
Fred Hutch researchers receiving awards of $2 million each include Aude Chapuis, MD, to develop and test a novel T-cell therapy for Merkel cell carcinoma, and Soheil Meshinchi, MD, PhD, to continue the development of a chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T) cell that can bind to a molecule found on the surface of osteosarcoma cells. An additional award of $250,000 has been granted to Joshua Veatch, MD, PhD, for the development of a novel engineered CD4 T cell that can be used to attack solid tumors by seeking out antigen-presenting cells in the immune system that locate foreign cells within the body and communicate with other immune system cells that can then target malignancies for destruction.
