Better treatments for glioblastoma
Center of Innovation for Brain Tumor Therapeutics
Researchers are developing ways to make radiation and chemotherapy work better for people with glioblastoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11189635 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project brings together doctors and scientists to create new treatment strategies for glioblastoma using lab studies, animal models, and clinical expertise. The team is focusing on how tumor cells repair DNA and testing drugs that block those repair pathways alongside radiation or chemotherapy to increase tumor cell kill. They study drug distribution, tumor heterogeneity, and resistant tumor cell populations to design approaches that reach and affect the most treatment-resistant areas. Promising findings will be translated toward clinical testing at Mayo Clinic and partner sites.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with a diagnosis of glioblastoma — especially those with newly diagnosed or recurrent disease who can receive radiation, chemotherapy, or enroll in trials at participating centers.
Not a fit: People with other types of brain tumors, patients unable to undergo radiation or chemotherapy, or those not eligible for trials at Mayo Clinic or collaborators may not benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make standard therapies more effective against glioblastoma and potentially extend survival or delay tumor recurrence.
How similar studies have performed: Some early-phase and preclinical studies combining DNA-repair inhibitors with radiation or chemotherapy have shown promise, but effective new therapies for glioblastoma remain limited, so this program builds on promising leads while aiming for stronger clinical translation.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- Mayo Clinic Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sarkaria, Jann N. — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Sarkaria, Jann N.
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.