T cell CRISPR screen

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Establishment and use of CRISPR based phenotypic screens in primary human T cells to identify novel immuno-oncology drug targets

  • IRAS ID

    271859

  • Contact name

    Stuart Farrow

  • Contact email

    Stuart.Farrow@cancer.org.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    CRT

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    5 years, 0 months, 0 days

  • Research summary

    Although immuno-oncology therapies, and in particular T cell-targeted therapies, are having a huge impact on the lives of cancer patients, many patients do not respond to existing immuno-oncology drugs. It would be advantageous, therefore, to identify novel genes that control T cell activity. Such genes may represent new drug targets that could be exploited to activate anti-tumour immunity.

    CRISPR technology allows precise editing of the genome of cells to knockout individual genes and can be used in phenotypic screens to identify genes of interest. Indeed, CRISPR screening has been previously used successfully in phenotypic T cell screens. By establishing T cell CRISPR screening, we aim to identify novel drug targets which could be exploited via either small molecule or antibody-based therapeutics to increase the immune response to tumours.

  • REC name

    West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    20/WM/0012

  • Date of REC Opinion

    14 Feb 2020

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion