# Local nano-immune modulation for the systemic treatment of lymphoma

> **NIH NIH K08** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $275,837

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The broad objectives of this K08 proposal are (1) to facilitate the development of necessary skills that will allow
the PI, Dr. Adam Lin, to achieve his long-term goal of becoming a successful physician-scientist focusing on
bridging immune-based nanotechnology for the treatment of lymphoma and other hematologic malignancies,
and (2) to investigate the anti-lymphoma immune mechanisms and pathways caused by the photothermal
therapy platform. This proposal concerns evaluating a new therapy platform designed for relapsed/refractory B
cell lymphomas, which are clinically challenging to treat especially relapsing after autologous stem cell transplant
or chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy. Immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors or bispecific
antibodies have limited efficacy due to the suppressive tumor microenvironment and systemic immune
suppressive conditions. Therefore, methods that alter local and systemic immune microenvironments are needed
to improve the response to immunotherapies. Radiation therapy (RT) has been described as altering the immune
microenvironments in lymphoma that generate a systemic immune response. However, this phenomenon has
not been observed clinically. Conversely, photothermal therapy (PTT) generates a strong T-cell response in
solid malignancy models by promoting a pro-inflammatory T-cell landscape. PTT is created by irradiating
specially designed gold nanoparticles with near-infrared light. The nanoparticles absorb the light and transfer the
energy into heat, leading to very localized ablations. We designed a PTT platform using branched gold
nanoparticles to carry toll-like receptor 9 agonists, CpGs, as an immune stimulant and found that PTT with CpGs
increased an anti-lymphoma systemic response, including increases in memory T cells. Therefore, we
hypothesize that our PTT/CpG platform can create a strong anti-lymphoma T cell response that can synergize
with immune-based treatments. To test this hypothesis, we propose the following Specific Aims: (1) characterize
the anti-lymphoma immune mechanism of PTT/CpG in B cell lymphoma models, (2) determine the synergistic
anti-lymphoma effects of PTT/CpG combined with T cell enhancing immune-based treatments in lymphoma
models, and (3) determine the anti-lymphoma efficacy of a subcutaneous lymphoma lysate/nanoparticle mixture
PTT platform in lymphoma models. The candidate and his mentors, Dr. Kim and Dr. Gordon have designed a
detailed training plan tailored to the candidate’s specific needs and goals. The plan includes a rigorous research
component that will afford the PI new knowledge and research skills to examine the PTT/CpG platform better
and move this concept to clinical trials. The success of this proposal will propel additional work evaluating the
combination of PTT with cellular therapies and will lead to translation into clinical trials in lymphoma with the PTT
device. Most importantly, it will provide an effective option for our pat...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10884825
- **Project number:** 1K08CA283285-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Adam Yuh LIn
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $275,837
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-01 → 2029-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10884825

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10884825, Local nano-immune modulation for the systemic treatment of lymphoma (1K08CA283285-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10884825. Licensed CC0.

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