Finding new medicines for children's brain tumors

In vivo Drug Testing of Pediatric CNS Tumors Using Patient Derived Orthotopic Xenograft Models

['FUNDING_U01'] · LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO · NIH-11120952

This project helps find new and better treatments for children with brain tumors by testing potential drugs in models created from patient tumors.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_U01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorLURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO (nih funded)
Locations1 site (CHICAGO, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11120952 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

Brain tumors are a leading cause of cancer-related death in children, and finding effective new drugs is a major challenge. This project uses special models, called patient-derived orthotopic xenografts, which are created by growing actual tumor cells from children with brain cancer in mice. These models closely mimic the original patient tumors, allowing researchers to test many different drug candidates to see which ones work best. The goal is to identify the most promising treatments that can then be moved forward for testing in children.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This research is relevant to children diagnosed with various types of brain tumors, especially those whose tumor samples have contributed or could contribute to these specialized models.

Not a fit: Patients without pediatric central nervous system tumors would not directly benefit from this specific research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to the discovery of more effective and targeted therapies for children battling brain tumors, improving their chances of survival and quality of life.

How similar studies have performed: This project builds upon an existing program that has successfully established a large panel of patient-derived brain tumor models, indicating a proven approach.

Where this research is happening

CHICAGO, 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.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.