Funding Sources

See our current and past funding from grants and various organizations. Their financial backing supports our mission to develop innovative pediatric cancer therapies.


Current Funding Sources

  • 9/1/2025
    8/31/2030

    V Foundation

    IN VIVO ENGINEERED CAR T/NK CELLS TO CURE PEDIATRIC GPC3+ SOLID TUMORS

    Principal Investigator: Andras Heczey, MD

Forced evolution of Nipah-virus pseudotyped lentiviral particles to in vivo engineer CAR T cells and using forward genomics screen to overcome CAR T cell exhaustion.

  • 8/1/2025
    7/31/2027

    NIH

    PA-REGULATOR CONTROLLED, JMJD6 REPROGRAMMED GPC3-CAR T CELLS FOR PATIENTS WITH HEPATOCELLULAR CARCIINOMA

    Principal Investigator: Andras Heczey, MD

The overall goal of this proposal is to regulate the expression of transcriptomic and epigenetic factors preventing CAR T cell exhaustion and safely maximize antitumor activity for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

1R21CA299361-01

  • 1/1/2025
    12/31/2026

    American Cancer Society

    TRANSCRIPTOMIC AND EPIGENETIC REPROGRAMMING OF CAR T CELLS USING THE MOTOR PLATFORM:
    AN UNBIASED FORWARD GENOMICS APPROACH.

    Principal Investigator: Andras Heczey, MD

Aim 1: Evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of enhanced CAR T cells. Aim 2: Determine the mechanism of improved function of CAR T cells.

DBG-24-1310405-01-DMC

  • 2/1/2024
    1/31/2028

    Alex's Lemonade Stand

    SYNTHETIC GENE EXPRESSION REGULATOR SWITCHES (SYNGERS) EXPRESSED IN CAR T CELLS TO CURE
    CHILDREN WITH SOLID TUMORS.

    Principal Investigator: Andras Heczey, MD

To develop Synthetic Gene Expression Regulator Switch (SynGERS) expressing CAR T cells as a novel approach to cure children with solid tumors.

23-28029

Postdoc and Triainee Funding

Azlann Arnett

Kevin (Che-Hsing) Li

Past Funding

  • 6/14/2024
    8/14/2024

    Alex's Lemonade Stand

    IL7 SIGNALING ENHANCED CAR T CELLS TO TREAT PEDIATRIC SOLID TUMORS

    Principal Investigator: Andras Heczey, MD

Measure the ability of IL7/IL7R GPC3-CAR T cells to repeatedly kill fresh tumor cells and their ability to proliferate in GPC3-dependent manner.

1294043

  • 10/1/2021
    9/30/2023

    Kuur Therapeutics (UK)

    ALLOGENEIC NATURAL KILLER T-CELLS EXPRESSING CD19 SPECIFIC CHIMERIC ANTIGEN RECEPTOR
    AND INTERLEUKIN-15 IN RELAPSED OR REFRACTORY B-CELL MALIGNANCIES

    Co-Principal Investigator: Andras Heczey, MD

Examine the safety of escalating doses of allogeneic invariant Natural Killer T (aNKT) cells genetically modified to express an artificial CAR that targets the CD19 molecule (CD19.CAR) and incorporates a costimulatory domain (CD28), cytokine IL-15, and shRNA to reduce expression of HLA molecules (CD19.CAR-aNKT).

  • 11/01/2018
    10/30/2021

    V Foundation

    GENOMIC AND FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERIZATION OF CAR T CELLS IN CHILDREN WITH LIVER CANCER

    Principal Investigator: Andras Heczey, MD

Characterization of changes in gene expression and effector function in pre-and post-infusion GPC3-CAR T cells using product, peripheral blood and tumor samples.

  • 10/12/2021
    9/30/2023

    Athenex (US)

    PROJECT-1 ANCHOR AND GINAKIT2 CLINICAL TRIAL CORRELATIVE STUDIES

    Co-Investigator: Andras Heczey, MD

To define the evolution of GD2-CAR NKTs in patients with neuroblastoma.

1) To test a series of CAR.GD2 constructs co-expressing the IL15-IL15Ra complex; 2) to test a series of CAR.GD2 constructs containing artificial (a)miR sequences; 3) to preserve the central memory program in CAR-NKTs during ex vivo expansion.

W81XWH-21-1-0344

  • 7/1/2021
    9/14/2023

    Athenex Therapeutics

    DEVELOPMENT OF CAR.GPC3 NKT CELLS FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA BRAIN

    Principal Investigator: Andras Heczey, MD

Design and preclinical selection of GPC3-CARs with cytokine armoring for NKT based therapies

  • 7/1/2021
    6/30/2023

    American Cancer Society

    THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CAR-NKT CELLS IN CHILDREN WITH NEUROBLASTOMA

    Principal Investigator: Andras Heczey, MD

Evaluate Natural Killer T cells (NKTs) co-expressing a GD2-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and interleukin-15 (IL15) in children with neuroblastoma (NB), dissect the evolution of CARNKTs post-infusion and their interaction with tumor cells and the components of the non-malignant tumor microenvironment TME).

SAP-21-060-01 - SBF-ACS

  • 1/1/2019
    3/31/2020

    Curing Kids Cancer

    GLYPICAN-3-SPECIFIC CAR T CELLS FOR CHILDREN WITH LIVER CANCER

    Principal Investigator: Andras Heczey, MD

Evaluate the safety and define the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of GPC3-CAR T cells in children with relapsed or refractory liver cancers. Determine the transcriptomic and functional changes in GPC3-CAR T cells. Evaluate the tumors for immune-escape mechanisms post-infusion and measure the persistence and antitumor activity of GPC3-CAR T cells in children with relapsed or refractory liver cancers.

  • 12/1/2016
    11/30/2020

    Cookies for Kids' Cancer

    T cells expressing an optimized GPC3-CAR for children with solid tumors

    Principal Investigator: Andras Heczey, MD

Aim 1: To generate a clinical grade vector encoding our optimized GPC3-CAR and obtain all regulatory approval for a Phase 1 clinical study to test the safety and efficacy of GPC3-CAR T cells in children with GPC3-positive solid tumors. Aim 2: To evaluate the safety and define the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of GPC3-CAR T cells in children with GPC3-positive solid tumors. Aim 3: To measure the in vivo persistence and antitumor activity of GPC3-CAR T cells in children with GPC3-positive solid tumors.

Phase 1 clinical study of GPC3-CAR T cells in children with liver cancers

Validate prognostic biomarkers and identify diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers for high-risk pediatric liver tumors. Identify therapeutic biomarkers for patients with P53-pathway alterations and for patients with metastatic potential. Test the safety and effectiveness of GPC3-CAR T cells as a therapeutic intervention for high-risk pediatric liver tumors.

RP180674

  • 2/1/2018
    7/31/2022

    Alex's Lemonade Stand

    NATURAL KILLER T CELLS WITH AN IL-15-ARMORED GD2-SPECIFIC CAR FOR CHILDREN WITH NEUROBLASTOMA

    Principal Investigator: Andras Heczey, MD

Develop and clinically test a conceptually new form of cancer immunotherapy using native and engineered properties of Vα24-invariant Natural Killer T cells (NKTs) to target both tumor cells and tumor-supportive stroma.

  • 3/15/2016
    3/14/2018

    Gilead Sciences, Inc.

    IMMUNOTHERAPY OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA WITH DUAL SPECIFIC NATURAL KILLER T CELLS

    Principal Investigator: Andras Heczey, MD

Evaluate the migration, localization, accumulation and persistence of GPC3-CAR NKTs in HCC: GPC3-CAR NKTs and GPC3-CAR T cells will be compared in vitro migration assays followed by measuring their ability to localize, accumulate and persist in HCC xenografts in mice.

  • 1/1/2016
    12/31/2019

    American Cancer Society

    GD2 REDIRECTED NATURAL KILLER T CELLS FOR CHILDREN WITH NEUROBLASTOMA

    Principal Investigator: Andras Heczey, MD

1) Evaluate the safety and anti-tumor activity of CAR.GD2 NKTs in children with relapsed / refractory NB. 2) To measure in vivo persistence and trafficking of CAR.GD2 NKTs in children with relapsed / refractory NB. 3) To co-express CAR.GD2 and IL-15 in NKTs and measure the persistence and anti-tumor activity of these cells in preclinical models.

MRSG-15-177-01-LIB

  • 7/1/2015
    6/30/2016

    Pablove Foundation

    GLYPICAN-3 SPECIFIC T CELLS FOR THE IMMUNOTHERAPY OF PEDIATRIC LIVER CANCERS

    Principal Investigator: Andras Heczey, MD

Compare the effector function of GPC3-specific CAR T cells using standard immunological assays, and evaluate the ability of GPC3-specific CAR T cells to expand, persist, and eradicate HB and HCC in orthotopic xenograft mouse models.

  • 3/25/2015
    3/25/2016

    Solving Kids’ Cancer

    AUTOLOGOUS ACTIVATED T-CELLS TRANSDUCED WITH A 3RD GENERATION GD-2 CHIMERIC ANTIGEN RECEPTOR AND ICASPASE SAFETY SWITCH ADMINISTERED TO PATIENTS WITH RELAPSED OR REFRACTORY NEUROBLASTOMA

    Principal Investigator: Andras Heczey, MD

1. To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and safety profile of autologous iC9-GD2 T cells administered to patients with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma. 2. To evaluate the immunologic and anti-tumor response to autologous 3rd generation iC9-GD2 T cell administration in patients with relapsed/refractory neuroblastoma.

  • 7/1/2014
    6/30/2015

    Pediatric Pilot Award of BCM

    GLYPICAN-3 SPECIFIC T CELLS FOR THE IMMUNOTHERAPY OF PEDIATRIC LIVER CANCERS

    Paul Calabresi Scholar: Andras Heczey, MD

Test T cells expressing glypican-3 specific chimeric antigen receptors to determine the best costimulatory endodomain combination of CAR to target pediatric liver cancers.

Development of o-acetylated-GD2-specific chimeric antigen receptors to target neuroblastoma

ALSF YIA 2014

  • 7/1/2013
    6/30/2016

    NIH/NCI

    PEDIATRIC CLINICAL ONCOLOGY RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAM

    Paul Calabresi Scholar: Andras Heczey, MD

Health research and training.

K12CA090433