Pediatric Immunotherapy Network (PIN)
A killer T cell (blue) engaging a target cell, with cell-killing molecules (red) traveling along the target cell's cytoskeleton (green).
The Pediatric Immunotherapy Network (PIN) is an initiative (supported by DCB and the NCI Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD) through RFA-CA-22-016) that aims to address current challenges in pediatric immuno-oncology and accelerate the development of effective immunotherapies for pediatric solid tumors.
PIN research projects are focusing on mechanisms of immune evasion in childhood cancers, the development of preclinical models for pediatric immuno-oncology, the discovery and validation of novel immunotherapeutic targets in pediatric tumors, and the design of new pediatric immunotherapy agents and treatment approaches.
The overall goal of PIN is to develop and advance novel translational immunotherapy approaches for children and adolescents with solid tumors (including brain cancers).
PIN News
Recent Administrative Supplements for Collaborative Research
Dr. John Maris, a PIN investigator, is collaborating with Dr. Drew Weissman (University of Pennsylvania RNA Innovation Institute) to develop mRNA-based nanoparticle vaccines to treat neuroblastoma.
Dr. Vandana Kalia, a PIN investigator, is working with Dr. Surojit Sarkar (Seattle Children's Hospital) to study how regulatory T cells affect responses to immunotherapy with bispecific T cell engagers.
Contacts for PIN
For additional information about PIN, please contact Dr. Yin Liu and Dr. Lillian Kuo in DCB or Dr. Anju Singh and Dr. Marco Cardone in DCTD.
Funded Projects
| Institution | Principal Investigator(s) | Project Title |
|---|---|---|
| St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | Hongbo Chi, Jiyang Yu | Enabling Immunotherapy for High-Risk Group 3 Medulloblastoma via Systems Immunology |
| St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | Stephen C. Mack, Giedre Krenciute, Timothy N. Phoenix | Targeting Tumor and T Cell DNA Methylomes to Improve CAR T Cell Therapies for Diffuse Midline Glioma |
| Stanford | Crystal Mackall, Sabine Heitzeneder | Attacking the Immunopeptidome of Ewing Sarcoma |
| Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | Robbie G. Majzner, Kimberly Stegmaier | Immunotherapeutic Targeting of Gangliosides in Ewing Sarcoma |
| Children's Hospital of Philadelphia | John M. Maris, Stephen P. Schoenberger | Personalized Neuroblastoma Vaccines |
| Seattle Children's Hospital | James M. Olson, Vandana Kalia | Bispecific Antibody Therapeutics for Neuroblastoma and Diffuse Midline Glioma |