BiViSTA: a glow-in-the-dark virus sensor that helps kill brain tumors
Official title: Enhancing glioblastoma virotherapy with a bioluminescent Zika virus NS5 sensor and integrated gene circuit
Funded at Central Michigan University · NIH-11424537 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-friendly project to make glioblastoma therapy safer and more effective by using a bioluminescent viral sensor to trigger targeted tumor cell death.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Central Michigan University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Mount Pleasant, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $144,641 |
| NIH project number | 1R16AI201138-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11424537 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with glioblastoma who are treated in specialized centers and may be eligible for future experimental therapies related to oncolytic virotherapy in GBM.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without glioblastoma or those whose disease biology does not support this viral approach may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant focuses on glioblastoma, a deadly brain cancer, and tests a novel therapy that uses a modified Zika virus to specifically attack tumor cells. Researchers will build a BiViSTA system that lights up when the virus is present and then uses that signal to turn on powerful anti-tumor genes in the cancer cells, aiming for precise, tumor-directed killing. The work includes testing in human cell cultures and 3-D tumor models to ensure the approach works and is safe before any clinical steps. If successful, the approach could offer a new way to control tumor growth and potentially improve outcomes for patients with GBM.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the approach works, patients with glioblastoma could receive more effective tumor destruction with fewer effects on healthy brain tissue.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that oncolytic viruses can target GBM cells, but this specific BiViSTA system is a novel, integrated sensor-therapy concept that requires further validation.
Where this research is happening
-
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Conway, Michael James — Central Michigan University
- Study coordinator: Conway, Michael James
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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.