Atlas of the tumor environment in childhood cancers
Official title: Pediatric Solid Tumor Microenvironment Atlas
Funded at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles · NIH-11180224 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will map the cells and signals surrounding childhood solid tumors like neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and Wilms tumor to find weaknesses that could help children with high-risk disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hospital of Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $4,528,480 |
| NIH project number | 4U01CA294552-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11180224 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adolescents diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma, or Wilms tumor—particularly those with high-risk or treatment-resistant disease, or families willing to donate tumor tissue—are the ideal candidates to contribute samples.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without the listed pediatric solid tumors or those unwilling to provide tumor tissue or participate at collaborating centers are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers will collect tumor tissue from children with common pediatric solid tumors and use advanced spatial and single-cell technologies to identify which cells and molecules live inside and around the tumors. They will create a detailed, searchable Pediatric Solid Tumor Microenvironment (PSTME) Atlas that shows where immune, stromal, and cancer cells are located and how they interact. By comparing samples from treatment-naïve and treatment-resistant tumors, the team aims to reveal mechanisms that enable tumors to evade therapy. The program is led from Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and will combine pathology, genomics, imaging, and computational analysis to produce resources other doctors and scientists can use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the atlas could reveal new treatment targets and strategies to overcome resistance and reduce harmful side effects for children with high-risk solid tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Single-cell and spatial mapping efforts in adult cancers and early pediatric studies have produced useful insights, but a comprehensive pediatric solid tumor microenvironment atlas is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Asgharzadeh, Shahab — Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Asgharzadeh, Shahab
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.