Deciphering how a brain cell pH helper influences glioma growth
Official title: Deciphering the role of pH regulator Slc4a4 in glioma progression
Funded at Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ · NIH-11457153 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study is exploring whether a brain cell pH regulator (Slc4a4) affects the growth and blood vessel changes of malignant glioma to identify new angles for treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Blacksburg, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R00CA295327-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11457153 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with malignant glioma or those contributing tissue samples and data for correlative analyses.
✕Less likely to help
The study is preclinical; direct personal benefit to individual patients in the near term is not guaranteed.
What this research studies
This project looks at how Slc4a4, a protein that helps regulate pH in glial cells, influences glioma progression and its interaction with blood vessels. By using patient-derived models and mouse studies, the team aims to map the pH-related genes and pathways that drive tumor growth and abnormal vascular remodeling. The work includes analyses of public cancer data and experiments that manipulate Slc4a4 to observe effects on tumor behavior and the surrounding environment. If Slc4a4 activity shifts tumor metabolism or vascular changes, this could reveal new targets for therapies that disrupt glioma progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could reveal new ways to slow glioma growth by altering tumor pH regulation and tumor–blood vessel communication.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data with Slc4a4 manipulation suggest possible inhibitory effects on tumor growth and angiogenesis in glioma models.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
Blacksburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ye, Qi — Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
- Study coordinator: Ye, Qi
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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.