How glioblastoma changes immune cells around the tumor during growth and treatment
Understanding the cellular and functional changes in the immune tumor microenvironment of glioblastoma during progression and treatments.
Researchers will look at how immune cells around glioblastoma tumors change as the cancer grows and during standard treatments to help people with glioblastoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11311276 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective, the team will examine tumor samples to map the types and behaviors of immune cells inside and around glioblastoma using high-resolution single-cell and spatial methods. They will compare samples across disease progression and before and after standard therapies like radiation, temozolomide, and steroids to see how treatments reshape the immune environment. Because fresh patient tissue can be limited, the researchers will also use models and archived samples to trace changes over time and in response to therapy. The hope is to identify immune changes that could point to better treatment strategies in the future.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with newly diagnosed or recurrent glioblastoma who can provide tumor tissue through surgery or agree to share their clinical samples and treatment data.
Not a fit: Patients without accessible tumor tissue or whose care cannot be coordinated with the study site may not be able to participate or directly benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new immune-related targets or strategies that make immunotherapies more effective for people with glioblastoma.
How similar studies have performed: Previous single-cell studies have helped map tumor and immune cell types in glioblastoma but have not yet produced widely effective immunotherapies, so this work builds on prior data while addressing gaps in treatment translation.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Charest, Alain — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Charest, Alain
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.