Dr. Andrean Simons-Burnett received a four-year Merit Award grant from the Department of Veteran Affairs entitled “IL-1-based immunotherapy in HNSCC”. The grant will study the use of interleukin-1 (IL-1) ligands encapsulated in polyanhydride nanoparticles as an immunological strategy to treat head and neck cancer patients who are Veterans.  Dr. Simons-Burnett’s prior work has shown durable T cell-dependent anti-tumor responses with a single administration of IL-1-nanoparticles in experimental models of head and neck cancer with no obvious toxicity.  This grant will further investigate if IL-1 nanoparticles represent a promising immunotherapeutic approach and/or adjuvant to other strategies used for the treatment of head and neck cancer patients.