Developing new treatments for glioblastoma that resist standard therapies

Perivascular tissue models to overcome MGMT-mediated temozolomide resistance in glioblastoma

NIH-funded research University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NIH-11212145

This study is looking at glioblastoma, a tough type of brain cancer, to find better treatments that can work even when a certain protein makes current drugs less effective, and they're creating special models to better understand how the cancer spreads and how new drugs might help patients like you.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Champaign, United States)
Project IDNIH-11212145 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on glioblastoma, a highly aggressive brain cancer that often resists treatment with the drug temozolomide due to a protein called MGMT. The team aims to create advanced tissue models that mimic the tumor environment, allowing for a better understanding of how glioblastoma invades surrounding tissues and how it can resist treatment. By using innovative biomaterials and microfluidics, they will test new drug derivatives designed to work independently of MGMT, potentially leading to more effective therapies for patients. This approach seeks to overcome the limitations of current animal models that do not accurately represent the challenges faced in treating glioblastoma.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with glioblastoma, particularly those who have shown resistance to temozolomide treatment.

Not a fit: Patients with glioblastoma who are not eligible for experimental treatments or those who have not received prior temozolomide therapy may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for glioblastoma patients who currently have limited options due to drug resistance.

How similar studies have performed: While there have been studies exploring glioblastoma treatments, this specific approach using engineered tissue models and novel drug derivatives is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.

Where this research is happening

Champaign, 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.
Conditions anti-cancer
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.