# Correlative Studies and Immune Monitoring Core

> **NIH NIH P01** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $241,328

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY – Core 3
The Correlative Studies and Immune Monitoring Core (Core 3) will provide all three projects comprising this
Program Project Grant proposal comprehensive, state-of-the-art biorepository and immune/molecular profiling
support by a team of highly accomplished research scientists who have utilized these specific platforms in
conjunction with previous and/or current cancer immunotherapy trials. These three projects investigate the
safety, efficacy and mechanisms of novel immunotherapeutic approaches to the treatment of patients with
glioblastoma (GBM), a diagnosis with extremely poor prognosis. The objectives of this Core are to identify
immunologic correlatives that predict clinical outcomes and provide mechanistic insights utilizing a
comprehensive repertoire of highly standardized and/or formally validated assay platforms. This Core will also
provide immune/molecular profiling leadership and expertise in collaboration with the Biostatistics and
Bioinformatics Core (Core 1) and the Clinical Trials and Imaging Core (Core 2) for all projects. It is critical to
the proposed projects to have well defined, accurately diagnosed high grade gliomas, a service that will be
provided by this core. High quality blood and tissue samples needed for the proposed projects will be
delivered by this core. Histopathologic services in this proposal include characterizing intratumoral
heterogeneity in a spectrum of both well-differentiated and high grade infiltrating astrocytomas via tissue
diagnosis and grading and in vitro analysis of antigenic expression in human glioma tissues as needed. The
CMV pp65 antigen in GBM will be targeted and we will collaborate with the CLIA-certified Image Cytometry
laboratory to develop a CMV CISH assay to characterize CMV presence and heterogeneity in high grade
gliomas. Additionally, Core 3 will provide highly specialized and comprehensive assay platforms that include
immunophenotyping, immune function analyses, and TCR sequencing. We will utilize high dimensional flow
cytometry to determine if TReg depletion is sustained after anti-CD27 treatment in Project 1 and following
lomustine administration in Project 3. We will use the polyfunctional T cell assay to determine if anti-CD27
increases the frequencies and relative polyfunctionality of CD4 and CD8 antigen-specific, vaccine-induced T
cell responses. Assessment of T cell immune responses will also be measured using the same highly
standardized and validated assays by this core in Project 2 and Project 3.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10246893
- **Project number:** 5P01CA225622-04
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Kent J. Weinhold
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $241,328
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10246893

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10246893, Correlative Studies and Immune Monitoring Core (5P01CA225622-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10246893. Licensed CC0.

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