NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Analytical Core for Deep Molecular Profiling of Brain Tumor Tissue

Official title: Core 2: Analytical Core

Funded at Massachusetts Institute of Technology · NIH-11420576 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A central lab hub will perform advanced single-cell, bulk, and imaging analyses to map brain tumor cells and their surroundings from patient samples and model tissues.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionMassachusetts Institute of Technology
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Cambridge, United States)
Project startSeptember 15, 2023
Project endAugust 31, 2028
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$343,932
NIH project number5U54CA283114-04
Project IDNIH-11420576 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Patients with brain tumors (e.g., glioblastoma) whose tissue samples are used for multi-omics profiling.

Less likely to help

Patients whose samples are not used for research or whose condition is not part of the study scope may not directly benefit.

What this research studies

This grant funds a specialized core that links multiple molecular techniques—single-cell and bulk RNA/protein profiling, phosphoproteomics, immunopeptidomics, metabolomics, and mass spectrometry imaging—to create a high-resolution map of brain tumor biology and its microenvironment. It provides expert personnel, data management with FAIR principles, and access to multi-omics data from core biopsy samples to support projects studying brain tumors. The aim is to generate ultra-deep, spatially resolved molecular data that can guide future therapeutic strategies and biomarker discovery. Researchers and clinicians could use these resources to understand tumor biology and to plan targeted interventions based on molecular context.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Patients with brain tumors could benefit from more precise molecular insights that inform targeted therapies and better biomarker discovery.

How similar studies have gone: This core builds on prior demonstrations of integrated multi-omics profiling in GBM and similar tumors, aligning with established multi-omics approaches.

Where this research is happening

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Cambridge, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Agar, Nathalie Yr — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Study coordinator: Agar, Nathalie Yr

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.