Brain tumor treatment and biomarker program
Brain Tumor SPORE Grant
This program is creating blood tests, imaging markers, and a new immunotherapy to help people with glioma (a type of brain tumor).
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11178403 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, the team will use many blood samples to build DNA methylation blood tests that aim to predict prognosis and help sort patients into groups for treatment. They will search for metabolic signals that can be used with noninvasive imaging to track tumor size and treatment response. Investigators are also developing an immunotherapy strategy to try to overcome immune suppression common in gliomas. The work combines clinical samples, advanced lab analyses, and human clinical endpoints at UCSF.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with glioma (including glioblastoma) who can provide blood samples and attend imaging and clinic visits at UCSF or affiliated sites are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with non-glioma brain conditions, those unable to undergo blood draws or imaging, or those who cannot travel to UCSF locations are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could produce easier blood tests to guide care, better imaging methods to monitor tumors, and immunotherapy options that work more effectively for glioma patients.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has shown promising signals for blood-based methylation markers and for some immunotherapy approaches in brain tumors, but durable clinical success remains limited and parts of this program are novel.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Berger, Mitchel S. — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Berger, Mitchel S.
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 below.