NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Enhancing CAR T cell therapy for brain tumors

Official title: Improving CAR T cell therapy for brain tumors using immune competent models

Funded at Children's Research Institute · NIH-11001478 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at ways to make CAR T cell therapy better for people with high grade gliomas, a tough type of brain tumor, by tweaking the T cells to help them fight the tumor more effectively.

More Brain Tumors research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionChildren's Research Institute
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Washington, United States)
Project startJanuary 1, 2021
Project endDecember 31, 2025
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$215,029
NIH project number5R00CA256262-05
Project IDNIH-11001478 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are adults diagnosed with high grade gliomas who may benefit from advanced CAR T cell therapies.

Less likely to help

Patients with other types of brain tumors or those who are not eligible for CAR T cell therapy may not receive benefits from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on improving CAR T cell therapy specifically for high grade gliomas, a type of brain tumor with poor treatment outcomes. The approach involves engineering T cells to better target and attack tumor cells by optimizing their design and genetic modifications. The effectiveness of these modified T cells will be tested in immune competent mouse models that closely resemble human brain tumor conditions. By addressing challenges such as tumor microenvironment and T cell exhaustion, the research aims to enhance the immune response against these tumors.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for patients with high grade gliomas, potentially improving survival rates and quality of life.

How similar studies have gone: While CAR T cell therapy has shown promise in other cancers, its application in high grade gliomas is still being explored, making this research both innovative and necessary.

Where this research is happening

  • Children's Research Institute
    Washington, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Haydar, Dalia — Children's Research Institute
  • Study coordinator: Haydar, Dalia

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Implantable scaffolds to make CAR‑T therapy stronger and cheaper for brain tumors

    This project aims to use a biocompatible implant placed at the tumor site to help CAR‑T immune cells reach and kill glioblastoma cells while reducing the need for repeated, costly infusions.

    NIH research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, United States · NIH-11294220

  • Developing new scaffolds to improve CAR-T cell therapy for brain tumors

    This study is looking at a new way to make CAR-T cell therapy work better for people with glioblastoma, a tough brain tumor, by using special scaffolds to help deliver the treatment right to the tumor, so patients can get more effective care.

    NIH research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, United States · NIH-11159094

  • Improving CAR-T cell therapy for brain tumors using focused ultrasound

    This study is looking at how using focused ultrasound can help CAR-T cell therapy work better for people with glioblastoma, a type of brain tumor, by making it easier for the treatment to reach and attack the tumor cells in the brain.

    NIH research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, United States · NIH-10997390

  • ONC206 for children with brain tumors: a first-in-children trial

    A first-in-children trial will test the safety and early signs of effectiveness of ONC206, taken by mouth, in kids with malignant brain tumors like diffuse midline gliomas.

    NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-11535240

  • ONC206 for children with malignant brain tumors

    A first-in-children trial tests the safety and early effectiveness of a pill that can cross the brain barrier to treat pediatric brain tumors.

    NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-11535239

  • ONC206 for children with dangerous brain tumors

    A first-in-children study tests the safety and early effectiveness of an oral drug, ONC206, for kids with high-risk brain tumors that have spread or recurred.

    NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-11535238

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.