Investigating how EZHIP interacts with PRC2 in a specific brain tumor in young children
Official title: Understanding Molecular Crosstalk Between EZHIP and PRC2 in PFA Ependymoma
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11067759 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a protein called EZHIP interacts with a group of proteins that help control the growth of a specific type of brain tumor in young children, with the hope of finding new ways to treat this challenging condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | April 10, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $205,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R21NS137323-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11067759 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are infants and toddlers diagnosed with posterior fossa group A ependymoma.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of brain tumors or those outside the age range of 0-11 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the molecular interactions between EZHIP and the Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) in posterior fossa group A (PFA) ependymoma, a type of brain tumor primarily affecting infants and toddlers. The study aims to explore how EZHIP inhibits PRC2, which is crucial for regulating cancer cell growth. By employing advanced techniques such as structural modeling and mass spectrometry, researchers will clarify the mechanisms behind this inhibition and its implications for tumor proliferation. This could lead to new insights into potential therapeutic targets for treating this aggressive cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatment strategies that specifically target the mechanisms driving tumor growth in PFA ependymoma.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific interactions being studied are novel, similar research approaches have shown promise in understanding other cancer mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Xin — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Liu, Xin
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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.