Bioengineered brain barrier chip to improve drug screening for brain tumors
Official title: A bioengineered blood-brain barrier-on-a-chip microphysiological system for improved drug screening in primary brain tumors
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-11453253 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small, patient-friendly brain barrier chip is being developed to test drugs for glioblastoma more accurately before they reach clinical trials.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $424,333 |
| NIH project number | 1R21NS146966-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11453253 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with glioblastoma or their tumor samples may indirectly benefit from the research through faster development of effective therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to experimental drugs that fail in preclinical testing may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project creates a 3D, human-cell-based model of the brain barrier to better mirror how tumors grow and respond to treatment in people. Researchers will use this microphysiological system to screen potential drugs for glioblastoma, aiming to predict how well they cross the blood-brain barrier and affect tumor cells. The goal is to identify promising therapies faster and reduce the likelihood that drugs fail in later stages. This work combines bioengineering, cancer biology, and advanced cell culture to improve translational relevance. Findings could guide future clinical testing and help patients by accelerating the pace of safe, effective treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could streamline the discovery of drugs that reach brain tumors and work better for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Similar 3D brain models have shown promise in better predicting drug behavior, though translating to patients remains challenging.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Skardal, Aleksander — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Skardal, Aleksander
Related research
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ONC206 for children with malignant brain tumors
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-
ONC206 for children with dangerous brain tumors
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SleepCARE: a patient-friendly way to help caregivers of brain tumor patients sleep better
A small grant is testing a telehealth sleep program designed to help caregivers of people with primary malignant brain tumors sleep better and feel less stressed.
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.