Brain cancer and brain-glia communication: how tumor cells and microglia talk to each other to drive gbm growth
Official title: Intercellular metabolic and signaling mechanisms of brain cancer-glia communication driving tumor progression
Funded at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory · NIH-11448832 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-facing look at how GBM tumors may manipulate brain immune cells to grow, and how understanding this communication could lead to new treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cold Spring Harbor, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $675,617 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA308165-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11448832 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with GBM or related brain cancers who could contribute tissue samples or be considered for future trials based on the disease biology studied.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals or patients with non-GBM brain conditions may not receive direct benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a deadly brain tumor that sneaks around the immune system in the brain. This project studies how tumor cells send metabolic signals to nearby brain immune cells (microglia) to support tumor growth. By identifying the signaling pathways and metabolic exchanges that help GBM progress, researchers hope to find new ways to disrupt this harmful collaboration. The work involves studying human disease biology and experiments that reveal how microglia respond to tumor-derived molecules. If successful, the findings could guide the development of therapies that restore immune attack on GBM.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these signals could lead to new treatments that slow or stop GBM growth by reprogramming brain immune cells.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that tumor-derived metabolites can reprogram immune cells in the brain, supporting a precedent for identifying actionable targets.
Where this research is happening
-
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cold Spring Harbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Van Aelst, Linda — Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Study coordinator: Van Aelst, Linda
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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.