_:n94b8cf41b9954684aa81a1dd8171a718xb0
<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"\n\n   Investigators at the University of Pittsburgh have received a $7.7    million, 5-year award from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to    study how dendritic cells participate in: (1) generating immunity    against cancer cells, (2) inducing transplant tolerance, and (3)    modifying auto-immunity that results in such diseases as diabetes and    scleroderma. The grant covers five separate projects in four    \"core\" research facilities.\n\n  \n\n   \"This funding provides us with an unprecedented opportunity to    expand our study of dendritic cell biology and its importance in    disease,\" said Michael T. Lotze, md, principal investigator of    the grant, professor of surgery and of molecular genetics and    biochemistry, and co-director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer    Institutes (UPCI) Biological Therapeutics Program. Olivera    Finn, phd, professor of molecular genetics, biochemistry, and surgery    and director of UPCIs Program in Immunology is the co-principal    investigator of the grant.\n\n  \n\nDendritic Cell-Based Therapies to Be Explored\n\n  \n\n   \"We have a unique gathering of internationally recognized    investigators who are exploring dendritic cell-based therapies at a    time when the isolation, culture, and application of these cells to    human disease has progressed significantly,\" added Dr. Lotze.\n\n  \n\n   Dendritic cells, which are found in almost every type of tissue,    including lymphatic, blood, and skin, are considered the pacemakers    of the immune system. These cells are the first to recognize and    process antigens--proteins found on or within intruders, such as    viruses or bacteria. Dendritic cells present these foreign antigens    to the T-cells of the immune system, which, in turn, assist in    antibody production or kill the invaders directly.\n\n  \n\nFive Projects Funded\n\n  \n\n   The five projects funded by this grant include:\n\n     \n\n    A project led by Drs. Lotze and Lou Falo, designed to study the key     biological factors necessary for developing potent, dendritic     cell-based vaccines against cancer\n\n    A project led by Dr. Lotze, Walter Storkus, PhD, and Andrew     Amascator,PhD, aimed at introducing antigenic substances to dendritic     cells or genetically modifying these cells so that they produce     growth factors (cytokines) that would increase their effectiveness     against cancer\n\n    A project led by Olivera Finn, PhD, Pawel Ciborowski, PhD, and Dr.     Amoscato, that will focus on the development of dendritic cell-based     vaccines for lung cancer\n\n    A project led by Penelope Morel,PhD, Angus Thomas,PhD, DSc, and     Hideaki Tahara, PhD, investigating the importance of dendritic cells     in a mouse model of the autoimmune disease, diabetes\n\n    A project led by Timothy Wright, MD, and Susan McCarthy,PhD, studying     how dendritic cells stimulate auto-immunity in scleroderma"
<https://www.cancernetwork.com/view/university-pittsburgh-awarded-77-million-dendritic-cell-research>