Imaging how brain tumors hijack existing blood vessels
Image-based Systems Biology of Vascular Co-option in Brain Tumors
Using detailed imaging and models to find brain-scan signs that gliomas (including glioblastoma) grow by taking over existing blood vessels, to help people with brain tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11306695 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will use patient-derived tumor tissue grown in models and image them at multiple scales, from tiny blood vessels up to whole-brain scans. They will follow how tumor cells co-opt vessels over time and how this causes astrocytes to lose contact with vessels and changes blood flow. The researchers will build image-based computer models of these hemodynamic changes and search for fMRI signals that mark gliovascular uncoupling. The goal is to translate those signals into a biomarker that could reveal non-enhancing tumor growth that standard MRI misses.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with gliomas, especially high-grade tumors like glioblastoma or patients whose MRIs show non-enhancing or unclear areas, would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People without brain tumors or with unrelated neurological conditions are unlikely to benefit directly from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could give doctors new MRI-based markers to detect invading tumor cells earlier and tailor treatments better.
How similar studies have performed: Prior preclinical and clinical studies have described vessel co-option and related hemodynamic changes, but developing a validated fMRI biomarker for co-option is a novel and still unproven approach.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pathak, Arvind P — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Pathak, Arvind P
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.