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RecruitingNCT02532452Updated Sep 4, 2026

Third Party Viral Specific T-cells (VSTs)

A Phase 2 interventional study of Viral Specific VST Infusion in Viral Infection, Viral Reactivation and Infection in an Immunocompromised Host, sponsored by Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati. Recruiting at 4 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 2 Days and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-04.

Sponsored by Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
1,000
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
2 Days and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that viral specific T-cells (a type of white blood cell) can be generated from an unrelated donor and given safely to patients with viral infections.

Read the detailed description

Viral reactivation and infection is a major cause of morbidity in immunocompromised patients (including HSCT recipients). In this study we will draw blood from unrelated (third party) donors and use the blood to generate viral specific T-cells (VSTs) with specificity for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), adenovirus (ADV), BK virus (BKV), and JC Virus. The VSTs will be infused into immunocompromised children with specific viral infections (EBV, CMV, ADV, BKV , or JC virus). Cells will be selected for infusion based on the recipient's HLA type and the viral specificity of the cells.

02

Conditions studied

  • Viral Infection
  • Viral Reactivation
  • Infection in an Immunocompromised Host

Keywords

  • Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)
  • Adenovirus (ADV)
  • Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
  • T-Cells
  • Donor
  • BK virus (BKV)
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
2 Days and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Immunocompromised patient with evidence of viral infection or reactivation
  • Age >1 day
  • Recipients who have had a stem cell transplant must be at least 21 days after stem cell infusion
  • Clinical status must allow tapering of steroids to \< 0.5mg/kg prednisone or other steroid equivalent
  • Must be able to receive CTL infusion in Cincinnati
  • Informed consent obtained by PI or sub-investigator either in person or by phone

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Active acute GVHD grades II-IV
  • Uncontrolled bacterial or fungal infection
  • Uncontrolled relapse of malignancy requiring treatment with chemotherapy
  • Infusion of ATG or alemtuzumab within 2 weeks of VST infusion
  • Biopsy confirmed acute rejection of solid organ transplant OR empiric treatment of suspected but not confirmed acute rejection of solid organ transplant within the last 30 days
04

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
1,000 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Viral Specific VST Infusion

    3rd party VST infusion

    Biological: Viral Specific VST Infusion

Interventions

  • BiologicalViral Specific VST Infusion

    VSTs will be infused into immunocompromised patients with evidence of viral infection or reactivation defined as any of the following: * Blood adenovirus PCR ≥ 1,000 * Blood CMV PCR ≥ 500 * Blood EBV PCR ≥ 9,000 * Plasma BKV PCR \>1,000 * Plasma JC Virus PCR \> 1,000 * Evidence of invasive adenovirus infection or disease, defined as the presence of adenoviral positivity by PCR or culture in one or more sites * Evidence of invasive CMV infection, eg pneumonitis, retinitis, colitis * Evidence of invasive EBV disease/infection, EBV-associated lymphoproliferation (EBV-LPD) defined as proven EBV-LPD by biopsy or probable EBV-LPD defined as an elevated EBV DNA level in the blood associated with clinical symptoms (adenopathy or fever or masses on imaging) but without biopsy confirmation, or EBV-associated malignancies * Evidence of symptomatic BK virus infection, which may include symptomatic hemorrhagic cystitis, or BK nephropathy * Evidence of PML or other CNS infection due to JC virus

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Successful production of viral specific T-cells

    Of the patients who had a VST culture initiated, successful production of VST cells is defined as meeting the protocol-defined release criteria.

    Time frame: Within 30 days post culture initiation

  2. Percentage of patients who do not have infusional toxicity

    Patients will be monitored for infusional toxicity

    Time frame: Through 30 minutes post infusion

  3. Incidence of GVHD associated with VST infusion

    Patients will be monitored for the development of VST associated GVHD

    Time frame: Through 30 days after infusion

Secondary outcomes

  1. Presence of viral-specific T-cells

    Presence of viral-specific T-cells in the participant's blood will be assessed by Elispot assay

    Time frame: At 30 days after infusion

  2. Viral burden

    The viral burden will be assessed using the protocol-defined efficacy assessment.

    Time frame: At 30 days after infusion

06

Study locations

3 of 4 sites recruiting
  • Akron Children's Hospital
    Akron, Ohio 44308, United States
    Recruiting
  • University of Cincinnati Medical Center
    Cincinnati, Ohio 45219, United States
    Completed
  • Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
    Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, United States
    Recruiting
  • The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center - James Cancer Hospital
    Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
    Recruiting
07

References and documents

Publications

  • Rubinstein JD, Pham G, Sridharan A, Khoury R, Wang YM, Hudda Z, Wilhelm J, Lichtenstein DA, Heyenbruch D, Cancelas JA, Davies SM, Lutzko C, Grimley MS. Outcomes with third-party virus-specific T cells after the use of single-antigen cell lines to predict HLA restriction. Blood Adv. 2025 Dec 23;9(24):6305-6313. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2025017097. PubMed 40991376 ↗
  • Galletta TJ, Lane A, Lutzko C, Leemhuis T, Cancelas JA, Khoury R, Wang YM, Hanley PJ, Keller MD, Bollard CM, Davies SM, Grimley MS, Rubinstein JD. Third-Party and Patient-Specific Donor-Derived Virus-Specific T Cells Demonstrate Similar Efficacy and Safety for Management of Viral Infections after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Children and Young Adults. Transplant Cell Ther. 2023 May;29(5):305-310. doi: 10.1016/j.jtct.2023.01.027. Epub 2023 Feb 3. PubMed 36736781 ↗
  • Rubinstein JD, Zhu X, Leemhuis T, Pham G, Ray L, Emberesh S, Jodele S, Thomas S, Cancelas JA, Bollard CM, Hanley PJ, Keller MD, Grimley O, Clark D, Clark T, Lindestam Arlehamn CS, Sette A, Davies SM, Nelson AS, Grimley MS, Lutzko C. Virus-specific T cells for adenovirus infection after stem cell transplantation are highly effective and class II HLA restricted. Blood Adv. 2021 Sep 14;5(17):3309-3321. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2021004456. PubMed 34473237 ↗
  • Nelson AS, Heyenbruch D, Rubinstein JD, Sabulski A, Jodele S, Thomas S, Lutzko C, Zhu X, Leemhuis T, Cancelas JA, Keller M, Bollard CM, Hanley PJ, Davies SM, Grimley MS. Virus-specific T-cell therapy to treat BK polyomavirus infection in bone marrow and solid organ transplant recipients. Blood Adv. 2020 Nov 24;4(22):5745-5754. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020003073. PubMed 33216887 ↗
08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02532452
Lead sponsor
Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Aug 25, 2015
Start date
Sep 2, 2015
Primary completion
Dec 2028 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 2029 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 4, 2026

Study contacts

Jamie Wilhelm
Contact
Jamie.Wilhelm@cchmc.org
(513) 803-1102
Michael Grimley, MD
Contact
Michael.Grimley@cchmc.org
Michael Grimley, MD, MD
principal investigator · Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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