Targeting T cell-intrinsic negative regulators to enhance the therapeutic potential of adoptive T cell therapy (C03)

• Subject Area: Immunology
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 452881907

This project aims to optimize CAR-T therapy by activating the STING pathway to increase anti-tumor immunity while reducing toxicity. Using syngeneic models, we will investigate how STING influences the function of CAR-T cells in the tumor microenvironment. STING-deficient CAR-T cells will be engineered to deliver cGAMP locally, enabling tumor-specific STING activation without systemic effects. In combination with mRNA vaccination to enhance the immune response, this approach will enable new strategies for the treatment of “immunologically cold” tumors.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 338: LETSIMMUN - Lymphocyte Engineering for Therapeutic Synthetic Immunity
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität München
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Veit Hornung