Improving brain function for children treated with radiation for brain tumors
Image-guided combination therapies for radiotherapy-induced neurocognitive impairment in pediatric brain tumor survivors
This research aims to find new ways to protect and repair the brain from damage caused by radiation therapy in children who had 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-11112415 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This grant focuses on helping children who have had brain tumors and received radiation therapy, as many experience brain damage and thinking problems later on. We are exploring new ways to deliver protective medicines and stem cells directly to the brain using advanced imaging techniques. The goal is to reduce inflammation and stress in the brain, which are key causes of this damage, and to help transplanted cells survive better. This approach uses tiny particles and special MRI scans to guide treatments and see how the brain responds.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is relevant for pediatric brain tumor survivors who have received radiation therapy and are experiencing or are at risk for neurocognitive decline.
Not a fit: Patients who have not received radiation therapy for a pediatric brain tumor or who do not have related neurocognitive impairment may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that prevent or reduce long-term brain damage and improve thinking abilities for childhood brain tumor survivors.
How similar studies have performed: While the specific combination of image-guided nanotechnology and stem cell therapy for this condition is novel, individual components like neuroprotective strategies and regenerative stem cell approaches are being explored in other contexts.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ngen, Ethel Joso — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Ngen, Ethel Joso
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.