Fibrin gel delivery of CAR‑T immune cells for glioblastoma
Fibrin-CAR-T cells therapies to enhance efficacy in glioblastoma treatments
This project uses a fibrin gel to place engineered CAR‑T immune cells directly into the brain to help people with glioblastoma after surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10973776 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are developing a fibrin‑based hydrogel that holds CAR‑T cells and can be placed into the tumor cavity to bypass the blood‑brain barrier. The team will test adding supportive immune signals (cytokines and TLR7/8 agonists) to help the CAR‑T cells survive and remain active in the tumor environment. They will also study whether combining the gel‑delivered CAR‑T cells with the approved drug Avastin improves tumor control. Work uses preclinical models to learn how best to translate this approach toward future patient treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The most relevant future candidates would be adults with glioblastoma undergoing surgical resection who are eligible for local delivery of an experimental immunotherapy.
Not a fit: Patients with tumors that cannot be surgically accessed, widespread metastatic disease, or who are not candidates for neurosurgery are unlikely to benefit from this local delivery approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make CAR‑T therapy work better in the brain by keeping immune cells alive and active near the tumor and reducing recurrence after surgery.
How similar studies have performed: CAR‑T therapies for glioblastoma have shown limited and mixed clinical success so far, and using biomaterial carriers like fibrin hydrogels is a relatively new preclinical strategy.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ogunnaike, Edikan — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Ogunnaike, Edikan
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.