How IDH Mutations Start Glioma (Brain Tumor)
Official title: Mechanisms of glioma initiation by IDH oncogenes
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11384439 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how specific genetic changes in IDH genes help start certain brain tumors called gliomas, with research done in a mouse model and advanced cellular analyses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $632,673 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS142141-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384439 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with IDH-mutant gliomas or related brain tumor conditions may benefit from future targeted therapies arising from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without IDH mutations or gliomas may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Researchers study how mutant IDH enzymes produce a chemical that changes DNA and proteins in brain cells, triggering tumor formation. They use a genetically engineered mouse model of astrocytoma and perform time-accurate, single-cell analyses to track changes before tumors appear. The goal is to identify which cell types are most susceptible to transformation and how early epigenetic shifts drive cancer development. Insights could point to early intervention strategies for patients with IDH-mutant gliomas.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of how gliomas begin could lead to earlier diagnosis and new treatment targets for patients with IDH-mutant brain tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work using mouse models and single-cell analyses has yielded important clues about tumor initiation and lineage changes in glioma.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcbrayer, Samuel Kent — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Mcbrayer, Samuel Kent
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Next‑gen oncolytic virus therapy for glioblastoma targeting AKT and ERK
A new cancer therapy using an engineered oncolytic virus to fight glioblastoma by blocking AKT/ERK signals and boosting the body’s immune response, with potential to reduce seizures and improve quality of life.
-
Bone marrow immune cells and glioma progression in teens and young adults
A study in adolescents and young adults with brain tumors looks at how immune cells from bone marrow may influence the progression from low-grade to high-grade gliomas.
-
How RNA Splicing Might Shape Glioma Cell States and Therapy Response
A small NIH-funded project will study how alternative RNA splicing influences glioma cell identities and treatment resistance in patient-derived cells.
-
Liquid biopsy for monitoring high-grade glioma using patient-specific DNA junctions
A Mayo Clinic team tests a blood test that looks for unique tumor DNA pieces in glioblastoma patients to monitor disease without frequent scans.
-
Deciphering how a brain cell pH helper influences glioma growth
A study is exploring whether a brain cell pH regulator (Slc4a4) affects the growth and blood vessel changes of malignant glioma to identify new angles for treatment.
-
Predicting how gene therapy spreads in glioblastoma after surgery to improve treatment coverage
This project uses a gene therapy that helps radiation work better against glioblastoma and builds computer models to predict where the therapy reaches after surgical tumor removal.
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.