Bispecific antibody treatment for neuroblastoma and diffuse midline glioma in children
Official title: Bispecific Antibody Therapeutics for Neuroblastoma and Diffuse Midline Glioma
Funded at Seattle Children's Hospital · NIH-11136286 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new antibody that connects a child's T cells directly to tumor cells to help treat neuroblastoma and diffuse midline glioma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $851,913 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA281848-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11136286 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children diagnosed with neuroblastoma or diffuse midline glioma, especially those with unresectable or metastatic disease, would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not express the specific targets recognized by the antibody or who cannot tolerate immune-based therapy may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
Researchers are developing bispecific T cell engager antibodies that bind both tumor cells and a child’s T cells to stimulate immune killing. They plan to use self-disassembling polymeric chemokines to draw more T cells into solid tumors and test how the antibody can cross the blood–brain barrier to reach brain tumors. The team uses patient-derived tumor samples and mouse models to study effectiveness and understand how the therapies work. If promising, these approaches aim to move toward options for children with tumors that cannot be removed or have spread.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This approach could help immune cells reach and kill tumor cells, offering new treatment options for children with hard-to-treat neuroblastoma or diffuse midline glioma.
How similar studies have gone: Bispecific T cell engagers have shown clear success in some blood cancers but applying them to pediatric solid and brain tumors is newer and less established.
Where this research is happening
-
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Olson, James M — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Olson, James M
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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.