Blood-based test to subtype brain tumors (gliomas) using a multi-mutation blood assay
Official title: Molecular subtyping of brain tumors using a blood-based multiplexed assay
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11311379 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A blood test called GLIscan aims to help doctors quickly identify the type of glioma in a patient using a few key tumor mutations from a blood sample.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 3, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $637,162 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA291826-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11311379 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with suspected or confirmed gliomas who need molecular subtyping to guide therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without gliomas or whose tumors do not shed detectable mutations in blood may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project develops a noninvasive blood test to classify gliomas by detecting mutations that reflect tumor biology. It builds on prior work with digital PCR to measure mutations in blood and links these results to tumor type and prognosis. The approach could reduce the need for invasive tissue biopsies and support faster treatment decisions. The work is led by Massachusetts General Hospital and will involve translating the assay into a clinically useful test over several years.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive faster, less invasive tumor typing and more timely treatment decisions.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary work showed sensitive detection of glioma-related mutations in blood and demonstrated clinical relevance, supporting further development.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Balaj, Leonora — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Balaj, Leonora
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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.