Creating a new treatment using GD2-CAR T cells for aggressive brain tumors in children

Developing Safe and Effective GD2-CAR T Cell Therapy for Diffuse Midline Gliomas

NIH-funded research Stanford University · NIH-10897175

This study is testing a new treatment using specially modified immune cells to help children with a tough type of brain tumor called diffuse midline gliomas, hoping to make them feel better and live longer.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionStanford University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Stanford, United States)
Project IDNIH-10897175 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing a novel therapy using GD2-CAR T cells to treat diffuse midline gliomas, particularly in children with H3K27M mutations. The approach involves engineering T cells to target the GD2 ganglioside, which is highly expressed in these aggressive tumors. The study will conduct a Phase I clinical trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of this treatment in young patients, aiming to improve survival rates and quality of life. By leveraging previous successes in treating other cancers, this research seeks to provide a new hope for children facing these challenging brain tumors.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children and young adults diagnosed with diffuse midline gliomas, particularly those with H3K27M mutations.

Not a fit: Patients with brain tumors that do not express the GD2 ganglioside or those who are not within the age range of 0-11 years may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve survival rates and treatment options for children with aggressive brain tumors.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies using CAR T cell therapy in other cancers, such as neuroblastoma, have shown promising results, indicating potential success for this novel approach.

Where this research is happening

Stanford, 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.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.