How low-grade brain tumors disrupt the brain's information processing
Official title: Cortical information loss in diffuse low-grade glioma infiltrated cortex
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11134644 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will learn how slow-growing (low-grade) gliomas change brain circuits and thinking in adults with these tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | July 9, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $400,890 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS137950-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11134644 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are adults (age 21+) with diffuse low-grade glioma, especially those undergoing surgery or willing to provide tissue samples and take part in cognitive testing.
✕Less likely to help
People without low-grade glioma (for example, those with high-grade tumors, other neurological illnesses, children, or those unable or unwilling to provide tissue or attend study visits) are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
As a patient, you can expect researchers to study brain tissue and clinical data from adults with diffuse low-grade glioma to see how tumor cells alter neural circuits. They will map where tumor cells infiltrate the cortex, examine connections between tumor cells and neurons, and measure whether inhibitory (GABAergic) and excitatory signals are disrupted. The team will use lab techniques on surgical samples (cellular mapping, electrophysiology, and advanced imaging) alongside clinical cognitive testing to link tissue changes to thinking and behavior. Results are intended to point to ways to modulate neuronal inputs to protect or restore circuit function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to targeted treatments that protect or restore brain circuit function and improve thinking and behavior for people with low-grade glioma.
How similar studies have gone: Recent research has shown tumor–neuron synapses and circuit effects, so this builds on emerging findings but focuses on cortical layers and inhibitory signaling in ways that are novel and not yet proven to change patient outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hervey-Jumper, Shawn L. — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Hervey-Jumper, Shawn L.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
OPTIMUM: Engaging LGG patients in understanding how low-grade brain tumors evolve
A large study plans to involve people with low-grade glioma to map how their tumors change from initial diagnosis to recurrence using patient-friendly data sharing and trial connections.
-
Targeted therapies for pediatric low-grade glioma
A pediatric brain tumor project aims to find better, safer targeted treatments for kids with low-grade gliomas.
-
Understanding how diffuse low-grade gliomas disrupt cortical information processing
This study looks at how a common adult brain tumor changes brain circuits and thinking skills, with the aim of guiding better therapies for cognitive problems.
-
Targeting O-mannosylation in pediatric brain tumors driven by BRAF fusion
A pediatric brain tumor project is exploring whether blocking a specific sugar-modifying process called POMT-mediated O-mannosylation can stop tumor growth in tumors driven by KIAA1549-BRAF fusions.
-
Druggable targets in pediatric low-grade glioma through multi-modal data and screening
A pediatric brain tumor study aims to find new drug targets by integrating imaging, genetics, and biology data to tailor treatments for children with low-grade gliomas.
-
Improving patient participation to track how lower-grade brain tumors change over time
This project works with adults who have lower-grade (WHO II/III) glioma to collect surgical tumor samples, medical records, and feedback so researchers can better understand how their tumors change from diagnosis to recurrence.
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.