Conquer Cancer - The Sontag Foundation Young Investigator Award in honor of the 10th Anniversary of The Brain Tumor Network
Funds research on gene-edited NK cells and oncolytic viruses to enhance immunotherapy for glioblastoma by overcoming tumor-induced immune suppression.
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Funder: Sontag Foundation
Due Dates: July 1, 2025 (Start Date) | June 30, 2026 (End Date)
Funding Amounts: Typically funds one year of early-career research; specific amount not stated in available materials.
Summary: Supports innovative immunotherapy and virotherapy research for glioblastoma using gene-edited NK cells and oncolytic viruses.
Description
This grant funds early-career investigators conducting research on novel therapeutic approaches for glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive form of brain cancer. The current focus is on combining genetically engineered natural killer (NK) cells—designed to resist tumor-induced immune suppression—and an oncolytic herpes simplex virus (HSV1) engineered to deliver IL-12. The goal is to enhance anti-tumor activity by overcoming the immunosuppressive environment of GBM, with the potential to develop more effective and less toxic therapies. The project involves both laboratory and animal model studies, as well as mechanistic investigations into how these therapies potentiate NK cell function.
