Finding new ways to treat meningioma brain tumors
Official title: Understanding druggable drivers of meningioma tumorigenesis
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11139406 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for new medicine targets to help patients with meningioma, a common type of brain tumor.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $563,919 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA262311-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11139406 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is for patients diagnosed with meningioma, particularly older adults, women, and African American patients who are often underrepresented in clinical trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without meningioma or those whose tumors do not involve the specific pathways being studied may not directly benefit from this particular research.
What this research studies
We are exploring the biology of meningioma, a common brain tumor, especially since current drug treatments are limited. Our team has analyzed many human meningioma samples to understand the different types of these tumors and their unique characteristics. We've also created new lab models, including organoids and patient-derived models, to better understand how these tumors grow. Our early findings suggest that a specific pathway, involving CDK6, might be key to tumor growth, and we are testing if existing drugs can block this pathway. The goal is to identify effective treatments and markers that predict which patients will respond best to these new therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to the first effective drug treatments for meningioma patients, especially those with aggressive forms of the tumor.
How similar studies have gone: While there are no effective pharmacologic treatments for meningioma currently, CDK4/6 inhibitors have shown success in treating other types of cancer, suggesting a promising approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Raleigh, David R — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Raleigh, David R
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Meningioma biology and new therapies guided by molecular profiling
A large, multi-institution study is exploring how meningiomas grow and respond to treatment, using advanced molecular profiling to find safer, more effective ways to manage them.
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Biomarker-based guidance to predict meningioma outcomes and radiotherapy response
A gene-based test is being developed to help predict how meningioma tumors will behave and how patients may respond to radiotherapy.
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Meningioma radiotherapy response: understanding gene clues and how to tailor treatment
A short research project will study why some meningioma tumors respond differently to radiotherapy by looking at gene activity and how it affects treatment outcomes.
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Genomic and biochemical clues behind meningioma race differences and outcomes
This grant aims to uncover biological and environmental factors that cause differences in meningioma occurrence and treatment results across racial groups, with the goal of improving care for patients affected by this brain tumor.
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How the MN1 protein drives aggressive acute myeloid leukemia
This project looks at how the MN1 protein and its partner BAF complex keep leukemia genes active in people with acute myeloid leukemia to reveal new treatment targets.
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How meningiomas change over time and new treatment targets
This project looks for molecular signs that predict which meningiomas will come back and finds drug targets to help people with aggressive or recurrent tumors.
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.