CHD2 and aggressive midline brain tumors in children and teens
Roles of Chromatin Remodeler CHD2 in Diffuse Midline Glioma with Onco-Histone Mutations
This research looks at whether changes in the CHD2 gene drive aggressive midline brain tumors in children and teens and could point to new treatment targets.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285226 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study diffuse midline gliomas (including DIPG) that carry H3K27M histone mutations to learn how the chromatin regulator CHD2 shapes tumor gene activity. They will use CRISPR/Cas9 screens in tumor cells and laboratory models to find chromatin regulators that change tumor growth and interactions with nearby neurons. The team will compare tumors with different H3K27M variants to understand why some behave differently and more aggressively. Work will include experiments on patient-derived tumor cells and analysis of tumor samples to connect lab findings to human disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children and adolescents diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma/H3K27M-positive tumors (including DIPG) or their families who can provide tumor samples or consider future related trials.
Not a fit: Patients with unrelated brain tumors, non-H3K27M gliomas, or adults with different tumor biology are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new drug targets and lead to therapies that slow or stop these lethal childhood brain tumors.
How similar studies have performed: Prior molecular work in DIPG has identified key epigenetic drivers and potential targets, but directly targeting chromatin remodelers like CHD2 is a newer approach with limited clinical testing so far.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Zhiguo — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Zhiguo
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.