Investigating how certain genes contribute to childhood brain tumors.
Official title: Developmental transcription factors in Drosha-driven cancer
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-10856957 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain gene changes might lead to pineoblastoma, a childhood cancer, by using mice to see how these changes affect tumors in the brain, and it hopes to find new ways to treat this cancer by understanding a specific factor involved in tumor growth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $447,405 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA289259-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10856957 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children diagnosed with pineoblastoma or related brain tumors that may be influenced by mutations in the DROSHA or DICER1 genes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with brain tumors not associated with DROSHA or DICER1 mutations may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding pineoblastoma, a type of childhood cancer linked to mutations in specific genes involved in microRNA processing. Using a mouse model, researchers will examine how the loss of these genes affects tumor development in the pineal gland. The study aims to identify the role of a developmental transcription factor called Onecut2 in both tumor formation and interaction with other genes. By exploring these mechanisms, the research seeks to uncover potential therapeutic targets for treating this cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatment strategies for childhood brain tumors caused by specific genetic mutations.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of targeting DROSHA and DICER1 mutations in pineoblastoma is novel, similar research has shown promise in understanding other cancer mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Kenneth Sung-Man — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Chen, Kenneth Sung-Man
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.