Engineered T cells to target DIPG (a childhood brain tumor)
GENETICALLY ENGINEERED T CELLS FOR DIPG
This research aims to create improved engineered T cells that find and kill DIPG tumor cells in children and young adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11144285 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your child has DIPG, this work is developing a targeted immune therapy called CAR T cells that can recognize a tumor-specific marker called GRP78. Researchers plan to boost these T cells by removing a brake (RASA2) so they stay active longer against tumor cells. The team will test these modified T cells in laboratory and mouse models that closely mimic human DIPG to check safety and how well they work. The goal is to move toward a safe, effective treatment that could be offered in pediatric clinical trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be children or young adults diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma or related diffuse midline gliomas that express the GRP78 tumor marker.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors do not express GRP78, who have contraindications to cellular immunotherapy, or who cannot access future trials may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could become a targeted immunotherapy that shrinks or controls DIPG tumors while limiting damage to normal brain tissue.
How similar studies have performed: Previous CAR T-cell trials for brain tumors showed feasibility and safety but limited effectiveness, and targeting GRP78 with RASA2-modified T cells is a novel approach not yet proven in people.
Where this research is happening
Memphis, United States
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital — Memphis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Krenciute, Giedre — St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Study coordinator: Krenciute, Giedre
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 below.