How the collagen protein COL1A1 may drive aggressive brain tumors
The Role of Collagen and its Signaling Mechanisms in Glioma Progression and Invasion.
This project looks at whether higher levels of the collagen protein COL1A1 help glioma cells spread through the brain and lead to earlier tumor return.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11245794 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze patient tumor data and tumor tissue to find which cells make COL1A1 and where those cells sit in the tumor. They will use single-cell RNA sequencing and RNAscope to map COL1A1-expressing cells and study their behavior. Experimental mouse glioma models and laboratory experiments will test how COL1A1 influences collective tumor cell movement and invasion. The team combines human clinical datasets (like TCGA and GLASS) with animal and molecular work to link COL1A1 levels to patient outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with newly diagnosed or recurrent malignant gliomas who can provide tumor tissue or allow access to their clinical tumor data.
Not a fit: People without glioma or those unwilling/unable to provide tumor tissue or clinical data would not directly benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work may identify COL1A1-related pathways to block tumor invasion and slow glioma recurrence.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has tied collagen and COL1A1 to invasion in other cancers and preliminary human and mouse data link COL1A1 to worse glioma outcomes, but targeting COL1A1 in glioma remains a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lowenstein, Pedro R. — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Lowenstein, Pedro R.
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.