Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy is a clinically approved cancer immunotherapy approach using genetically engineered T cells and represents a paradigm shift in the treatment of certain blood cancers that do not respond to other available treatment options. However, the success of CAR-T cells has been met with challenges regarding efficacy, safety, and broad availability. Currently clinically approved CAR-T cells are derived from autologous (patient’s own) T cells and focus on αβ T cell subsets. In this proposal, we investigate alternative immune cells called gamma delta (γδ) T cells and explore their potential for cancer immunotherapy.

This project combines clinical work and basic academic research to tackle complex challenges of γδ T cell biology in cancer immunotherapy and immune-mediated disorders. Therefore, the team is composed of researchers from two Slovenian groups that uniquely combine basic and clinical research.

Coordinator: National Institute of Biology

Partner 1: University Medical Center Ljubljana, University Children’s Hospital, Department of Allergology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology

This project is financed by the Slovenian Research and Innovation agency (ARIS).
Project ID: J3-50109
Duration: 1.10.2023 – 30.9.2026