Changing Immune Cells to Fight Brain Tumors
Official title: Reprograming Macrophages and Targeting Glioma Stem Cells in Glioblastoma
Funded at Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru · NIH-11164794 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for ways to change immune cells in the brain to help them fight glioblastoma, a serious type of brain cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $402,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS128938-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11164794 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is for patients with glioblastoma, as it aims to develop new therapeutic strategies for this specific brain cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without glioblastoma would not directly benefit from this specific research, as it is highly focused on this particular type of brain tumor.
What this research studies
Glioblastoma is a very aggressive brain cancer that often has a poor outlook. This cancer contains special stem cells and many immune cells called macrophages, which often help the tumor grow instead of fighting it. Our goal is to find new medicines that can change these helpful macrophages into cells that actively attack and remove cancer cells. We are also exploring how these changed immune cells can work together with treatments that target the cancer stem cells. This approach aims to create a powerful, two-pronged attack against glioblastoma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that make the body's own immune system more effective at fighting glioblastoma, potentially improving patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: While reprogramming macrophages is an emerging field, this specific approach of targeting BACE1 to reprogram tumor-associated macrophages in glioblastoma is a novel strategy.
Where this research is happening
-
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bao, Shideng — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Bao, Shideng
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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.