Blocking PD-1 helps the immune system fight pediatric high-grade glioma
Official title: Thymic PD-1 blockade mediates the anti-tumor immune response in pediatric high-grade glioma
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-10872264 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a new treatment that blocks a specific pathway can help kids with aggressive brain tumors by boosting their immune system to fight the cancer better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $53,974 |
| NIH project number | 5F30CA260911-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10872264 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pediatric patients diagnosed with high-grade glioma who are seeking innovative treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with low-grade gliomas or other types of cancers unrelated to high-grade glioma may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how blocking the PD-1 pathway can enhance the immune response against high-grade gliomas in children. It focuses on understanding the role of PD-1 in T cell development within the thymus, which is crucial for generating effective immune cells. By combining PD-1 inhibitors with hematopoietic stem cell therapy, the study aims to expand the pool of T cells that can target tumors. This approach could lead to new treatment strategies for pediatric patients suffering from aggressive brain tumors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective immunotherapy options for children with high-grade gliomas, potentially improving survival rates.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promising results with PD-1 blockade in various cancers, suggesting that this approach may also be effective in pediatric high-grade glioma.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Francis, Connor Patrick — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Francis, Connor Patrick
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Liquid biopsy for monitoring high-grade glioma using patient-specific DNA junctions
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-
Canine and human high-grade gliomas: linking dog and human tumor biology to guide better treatments
A study in dogs with high-grade glioma aims to reveal parallels to human brain tumors so that treatments looked promising in dogs might translate to people.
-
Targeted study on a pediatric brain cancer subtype with specific gene mutations
A study to understand why a rare form of high-grade brain cancer in young people develops and to find new treatment targets.
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PEP-CMV vaccine with nivolumab for pediatric and adult high-grade brain tumors
A phase 1/2 trial tests a CMV-targeted vaccine plus a PD-1 blocker for newly diagnosed and recurrent high-grade brain tumors in children and adults.
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This project uses advanced MRI scans to spot and tell apart invasive types of high-grade brain tumors so doctors can find tumor cells that hide beyond standard scans.
-
Finding weaknesses in G34‑mutant high‑grade brain tumors
This project looks at how specific genetic changes in G34‑mutant high‑grade brain tumors that affect adolescents and young adults create weaknesses that could point to new treatments.
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.