# Immune Regulation of COVID-19 Infection in Cancer and Autoimmunity

> **NIH NIH U54** · EMORY UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $359,168

## Abstract

Project 3:
Title: Regulation of SARS CoV-2 immunity in cancer patients
Project leaders: Madhav Dhodapkar and Rafi Ahmed
Project Summary:
Patients with cancer are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality relating to SARS CoV-2 infection.
However the immunologic underpinnings of wide variance in COVID-19 disease course in cancer
patients are unknown. In addition to underlying cancer associated immune paresis, therapies used to
treat cancer can further increase the risk of COVID related pathology. In this proposal, we have
assembled a multidisciplinary team to tackle these questions. These studies build directly on our prior
expertise and experience in studying immunity in viral infections and cancer. We will focus in
particular on patients with B/plasma cell tumors treated with B/plasma cell depleting therapies and
those with lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint blockade. Studies in aim 1 will evaluate the
impact of therapy-related immune paresis on protective immunity to SARS CoV-2 and viral clearance
in patients with B/plasma cell malignancies. Studies in aim 2 will evaluate anti-viral immunity and
immunopathology in patients with lung cancer receiving immune checkpoint blockade. Studies in aim
3 will evaluate immunologic responses to SARS CoV-2 vaccines in patients with B/plasma cell tumors
and lung cancer once they are approved and administered as a part of standard care. These studies
will not only provide basic insights into protective immunity to SARS CoV-2, but also provide essential
information for optimal care of these patients in the face of concurrent SARS CoV-2 infection.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10680633
- **Project number:** 4U54CA260563-02
- **Recipient organization:** EMORY UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** MADHAV V DHODAPKAR
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $359,168
- **Award type:** 4N
- **Project period:** 2020-09-30 → 2025-03-24

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10680633

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10680633, Immune Regulation of COVID-19 Infection in Cancer and Autoimmunity (4U54CA260563-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10680633. Licensed CC0.

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