How blood-vessel neighborhoods help glioblastoma spread and resist treatment
Elucidating the Role of Perivascular Niche in Glioblastoma Invasion and Therapeutic Resistance at Single Cell Resolution using Biomimetic Tumor Microenvironment Models
Using realistic 3D tumor models, researchers are mapping how the blood-vessel microenvironment helps glioblastoma cells survive and resist therapies to help people with GBM.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arizona State University-Tempe Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11164555 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project builds lab-grown, biomimetic 3D tumor models that include blood vessel cells, astrocytes, pericytes, and immune cells to mimic the glioblastoma microenvironment. The team will combine microfluidic "on-chip" models with single-cell analyses to track how interactions in the perivascular niche change stem-like tumor cells, their invasion behavior, and their response to treatments. By testing therapies in these more realistic models, researchers hope to identify signals or cell partners that protect resistant cells. Findings will guide future approaches to target the niche and reduce tumor recurrence.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with glioblastoma who can donate tumor tissue during surgery or participate in related tissue-collection efforts would be the most direct contributors to this work.
Not a fit: Patients without glioblastoma, those with different brain tumor types, or those seeking immediate therapeutic benefit rather than tissue donation are unlikely to benefit directly from participating in this lab-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets or strategies to overcome treatment resistance and reduce glioblastoma recurrence.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and cell-line studies have shown the perivascular niche supports glioma stem cells, but combining high-fidelity 3D microfluidic models with single-cell resolution is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Scottsdale, United States
- Arizona State University-Tempe Campus — Scottsdale, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nikkhah, Mehdi — Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
- Study coordinator: Nikkhah, Mehdi
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.