# Repurposing TRM for tumor immunotherapy

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2022 · $480,356

## Abstract

Abstract: Repurposing TRM for tumor immunotherapy
Overcoming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and localizing adoptive cell and checkpoint
blockade therapies to solid tumors remain major impediments to successful cancer immunotherapy. This
proposal addresses these issues. Preliminary data indicates that human tumors are populated with antiviral T
cells that remain competent to trigger immunostimulatory sensing and alarm function upon local recognition of
cognate peptide. In mice, peptide alarm therapy synergizes with PD-L1 to clear tumors and mice are durably
protected against tumor growth at alternative anatomic sites in the absence of further treatment. This proposal
will dissect the mechanisms by which peptide alarm therapy triggers tumor clearance and establishes systemic
tumor-specific immunity. It will test synergy with other immunotherapies. Further investigations will be made on
the ability to recapitulate peptide alarm therapy on human tumor explants in anticipation of informing a clinical
trial. This proposal may have a sustained impact on the field by defining a new avenue of cancer immunotherapy
that operates independently but synergizes with other therapies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10300997
- **Project number:** 5R01CA238439-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID MASOPUST
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $480,356
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-12-04 → 2024-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10300997

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10300997, Repurposing TRM for tumor immunotherapy (5R01CA238439-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10300997. Licensed CC0.

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