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Development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-Cell therapy in New Zealand

Year:
2019
Duration:
72 months
Approved budget:
$802,249.00
Researchers:
Dr Robert Weinkove
Health issue:
Cancer (oncology)
Proposal type:
Clinical Practitioner Research Fellowship
Lay summary
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells are patients' own immune cells that have been gene-modified and expanded in the laboratory to redirect them against cancer cells. When returned to patients, these can lead to remission of some types of leukaemia and lymphoma, even among people whose cancers do not respond to chemotherapy. CAR T-cells are licensed in the US and Europe to treat patients with certain types of lymphoma and leukaemia, and are showing very promising results in another blood cancer called myeloma. This programme of clinical and translational research aims to establish the regulatory and clinical environment for safe CAR-T cell delivery in New Zealand, to conduct trials of a new type of CAR T-cell therapy, to develop and disseminate guidelines for CAR T-cell use and to take part in co-operative group studies. The overall goal is to introduce safe and effective CAR T-cell therapy to New Zealand.