Flow-informed therapy for glioblastoma
Funded at Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ · NIH-11396456 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach uses patient MRI data and 3D modeling to map how fluid flows in and around brain tumors to guide targeted therapies for glioblastoma patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Blacksburg, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $534,840 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA305075-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11396456 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with glioblastoma whose tumor dynamics can be studied with dynamic MRI and who may benefit from added or altered delivery methods.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not show measurable interstitial flow changes or cannot undergo MRI-based mapping may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses patient- or mouse-derived MRI to create 3D maps of how interstitial fluid moves in glioblastoma. It will couple mathematical models with imaging and engineering methods to study how tumor fluid flow changes with treatment and how those changes relate to tumor invasion. The team will test a focused ultrasound system to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier and directly target invading tumor cells, while validating and adjusting treatment in preclinical models. Additional work will compare flow patterns during standard therapies like temozolomide and radiation, and during physical delivery methods such as convection-enhanced delivery. The goal is to tailor therapy timing and delivery to the patient’s evolving tumor biology using quantitative flow maps.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more precisely targeted therapies guided by individualized brain-fluid maps, potentially slowing invasion and improving treatment effectiveness.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests that tumor fluid dynamics relate to invasion and treatment response, but this approach combining real-time flow mapping with targeted delivery is innovative.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
Blacksburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Munson, Jennifer M — Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
- Study coordinator: Munson, Jennifer M
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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.