Collecting tumor samples and data from children with neuroblastoma and diffuse midline glioma

Molecular Characterization Trial

['FUNDING_OTHER'] · DANA-FARBER CANCER INST · NIH-11178325

This project collects tumor tissue and clinical information from children with neuroblastoma or diffuse midline glioma to create a shared resource for researchers.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_OTHER']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorDANA-FARBER CANCER INST (nih funded)
Locations1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11178325 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

If my child joins, the team will collect tumor samples and clinical data before treatment and, when available, after surgery or at autopsy. The project partners with existing pediatric cooperative group trials (PNOC023 for diffuse midline glioma and COG ANBL1531 for neuroblastoma) to gather matched sample pairs. Samples and data are processed and shared through the ROBIN center network (Harvard/UCSF/Dana‑Farber) so many researchers can study how tumors respond to radiation. The goal is to speed up research by making high-quality biospecimens and linked clinical data widely available.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Children diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma or neuroblastoma who are enrolled in the linked cooperative group trials and can provide biopsy, surgical, or post‑mortem tissue are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients without these tumor types or who are not enrolled at participating trial sites are unlikely to be eligible or to receive direct benefit from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this resource could help researchers find why some children's tumors resist radiation and guide development of better, personalized treatments.

How similar studies have performed: Biobanks and molecular profiling have previously led to important discoveries in pediatric cancers, but the matched pre/post and post‑mortem sampling approach here is relatively uncommon and adds novel value.

Where this research is happening

BOSTON, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.