Better spinal-fluid testing of immune proteins for children with brain tumors
Optimizing pre-analytical variables for reliable mass spectrometry-based quantification of immunomodulatory proteins in cerebrospinal fluid in pediatric neuro-oncology trials
This project will make spinal-fluid (CSF) tests more reliable for measuring immune proteins in children with brain tumors who are receiving immune therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11306053 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will examine how steps before lab testing — like how spinal fluid is collected, handled, stored, and shipped — affect mass spectrometry measurements of immune proteins in CSF from children with brain tumors. They will create a clear preanalytical standard operating protocol (SOP) to reduce those sources of variation. The SOP will be tested and validated by running targeted MRM-MS assays on prospectively collected clinical trial samples processed at CLIA-certified laboratories. If the SOP works across sites, the team will share it so other hospitals can use consistent methods.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children with brain tumors who are enrolled in clinical trials that collect cerebrospinal fluid, especially those receiving immune-based treatments like checkpoint inhibitors or intrathecal CAR-T therapy.
Not a fit: Adults without brain tumors, patients who will not have CSF collected, or people not receiving immune therapies are unlikely to be eligible or directly benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make CSF immune-protein measurements more accurate and comparable across hospitals, helping doctors monitor and tailor immune therapies for children with brain tumors.
How similar studies have performed: Standardizing preanalytical methods has improved biomarker reliability in blood and other fluids, but applying MRM-MS to CSF in pediatric neuro‑oncology is relatively new and still being established.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Paulovich, Amanda G — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Paulovich, Amanda G
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 below.