Creating a pig model to study brain tumors
Official title: Development of a pre-clinical syngeneic pig glioma model for research and translational studies
Funded at Methodist Hospital Research Institute · NIH-10973542 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is using mini-pigs to learn more about glioblastoma, a tough type of brain cancer, so researchers can find better ways to treat it and understand how surgery might affect tumor growth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Methodist Hospital Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $415,257 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA287157-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10973542 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with glioblastoma who are seeking innovative treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of brain tumors or those who are not diagnosed with glioblastoma may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new model using mini-pigs to better understand glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer that is currently incurable. By using mini-pigs, which have brain structures similar to humans, researchers aim to investigate how surgical trauma affects tumor development and the unique properties of tumor cells. This model will allow for more accurate surgical and imaging studies, which are difficult to perform in traditional rodent models. The goal is to uncover critical insights that could lead to improved treatments for glioblastoma patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to significant advancements in the treatment and management of glioblastoma, potentially improving survival rates and quality of life for patients.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of animal models in cancer research is common, this specific approach using mini-pigs for glioblastoma is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rostomily, Robert C — Methodist Hospital Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Rostomily, Robert C
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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.