Improving CAR-T cell therapy for brain tumors using focused ultrasound

Novel approaches to enrich CAR-T cell Therapy in brain tumors using focused ultrasound

NIH-funded research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10997390

This study is looking at how using focused ultrasound can help CAR-T cell therapy work better for people with glioblastoma, a type of brain tumor, by making it easier for the treatment to reach and attack the tumor cells in the brain.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniv of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chapel Hill, United States)
Project IDNIH-10997390 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how focused ultrasound (FUS) can enhance the effectiveness of CAR-T cell therapy for treating glioblastoma, a type of brain tumor. By using FUS, the researchers aim to temporarily disrupt the blood-brain barrier, allowing CAR-T cells to better penetrate brain tissue and target tumor cells. The study involves advanced biomedical engineering techniques and aims to improve the delivery of these innovative therapies to patients with brain tumors. The approach is based on promising early studies that have shown the potential of FUS in enhancing drug delivery to the brain.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with glioblastoma who are seeking innovative treatment options.

Not a fit: Patients with brain tumors other than glioblastoma or those who are not eligible for CAR-T cell therapy may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve treatment outcomes for patients with glioblastoma by enhancing the effectiveness of CAR-T cell therapy.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown success with focused ultrasound in enhancing drug delivery to the brain, making this approach promising yet still innovative.

Where this research is happening

Chapel Hill, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.