Glial origins and signaling in childhood brain cancer (medulloblastoma)
Official title: Glial Origin and Signaling in Medulloblastoma
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11535384 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new study looks at how glial cells may drive relapse and growth in childhood medulloblastoma, with the goal of finding targeted treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $495,097 |
| NIH project number | 7R01NS140460-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11535384 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with medulloblastoma, particularly those with relapsed disease or who are undergoing treatment, may be eligible depending on study design.
✕Less likely to help
Children without medulloblastoma or those not meeting participation criteria may not benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This project will examine medulloblastoma tumor samples from children to identify a glial progenitor cell population that may initiate or sustain tumor growth. Using single-cell analysis, researchers will characterize OLIG2-expressing cells and how they respond to standard therapies in relapsed tumors. The findings could reveal new targets to prevent recurrence and reduce treatment side effects. The study is led by Qing Richard Lu at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to therapies that specifically target relapse-driving cells and improve survival with fewer long-term side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that specific glial/progenitor cell populations can influence brain tumor behavior and may be linked to recurrence.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lu, Qing Richard — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Lu, Qing Richard
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Next generation GPC2 CARs to treat pediatric medulloblastoma
A new CAR T-cell therapy approach targets a protein common on child brain tumor cells to improve outcomes for kids with medulloblastoma.
-
Targeting medulloblastoma with multispecific T-cell engagers
A pediatric brain cancer treatment study tests a new multi-targeted T-cell engager designed to reach brain tumors and help the immune system kill cancer cells.
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Efflux-aware brain barrier model to guide pediatric medulloblastoma drug discovery
A study using a pediatric brain cancer model to test how radiation-activated digoxin-like compounds could safely reach brain tumors in children.
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Overcoming medulloblastoma resistance in kids using in vivo perturb-seq and preclinical therapies
A patient-focused study aiming to find new, less toxic ways to treat pediatric medulloblastoma by using advanced genetic screening to identify effective drug targets in preclinical models.
-
Dysregulation of a key gene complex and its role in Group 4 medulloblastoma
A study explores how disruption of a core gene complex in brain development may drive Group 4 medulloblastoma and seeks to understand new ways to help affected children.
-
Targeting MBD2 for medulloblastoma therapy
Aimed at developing brain-penetrant small molecules to treat medulloblastoma in children by reactivating a tumor-suppressing gene.
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.