Improving T-cell Therapy for Children with Brain Cancer

Addressing tumor heterogeneity in pediatric gliomas with precision adoptive T cell therapy

NIH-funded research University of Florida · NIH-11167572

This project aims to create a more precise T-cell therapy to better fight brain tumors in children.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Florida NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Gainesville, United States)
Project IDNIH-11167572 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

We are working to improve a special type of immune therapy called adoptive T-cell therapy for children with aggressive brain cancers. Our previous work showed that a first version of this therapy was safe and showed early promise in treating these cancers. Now, we are developing a "next-generation" approach that uses a patient's unique tumor information to create T cells that can target many different parts of their cancer. This new method helps overcome the challenge of tumors having different types of cells, making the treatment more effective.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates would be children affected by high-grade glioma or other invasive and refractory brain cancers, particularly those who might benefit from advanced immune therapies.

Not a fit: Patients whose tumors do not respond to T-cell therapies or those with very rapidly progressing disease might not receive benefit from this specific approach.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this advanced therapy could offer children with high-grade gliomas a more effective and lasting treatment option.

How similar studies have performed: A "first-generation" version of this therapy has already shown promising pre-clinical and early clinical efficacy, including prolonged remission in some patients.

Where this research is happening

Gainesville, 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.
Conditions Brain Cancer
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.