How healthy and tumor cells grow in the developing brain
NORMAL & NEOPLASTIC GROWTH IN THE BRAIN
The team is looking for specific weaknesses in childhood brain tumors like diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) and medulloblastoma to help create better treatments for affected children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11178018 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a parent's viewpoint, researchers are comparing how normal brain cells and tumor cells develop in children's hindbrain regions to find what goes wrong. They examine tumor samples and laboratory models to study genes, proteins, and epigenetic marks (such as the H3K27M mutation) that drive disease. The program also studies how mutations in ACVR1 and signaling pathways like PI3K/mTOR change tumor behavior and treatment response. Promising targets found in the lab will be tested in preclinical models to identify therapies that could move toward clinical use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children diagnosed with DIPG or medulloblastoma, and families willing to contribute tumor tissue or clinical data, are most directly relevant to this program.
Not a fit: Adults with unrelated cancers, people without hindbrain tumors, or patients seeking immediate approved treatments are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic and preclinical research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new targeted therapies that improve survival and reduce side effects for children with DIPG and medulloblastoma.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have identified epigenetic drivers like H3K27M and shown vulnerabilities in some medulloblastoma subtypes, so this program builds on promising but still largely preclinical findings.
Where this research is happening
Memphis, United States
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital — Memphis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baker, Suzanne J. — St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Study coordinator: Baker, Suzanne J.
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.