Investigating the role of immune cells in childhood brain tumors
Official title: The role of Myeloid cells in pediatric-high grade gliomas
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11099934 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain immune cells in the brain, called macrophages and neutrophils, affect a type of brain cancer in kids, and it hopes to find new ways to help treat these young patients better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $682,451 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA258636-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11099934 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children diagnosed with pediatric high-grade gliomas, particularly those with specific genetic mutations or inflammatory profiles.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with low-grade gliomas or other types of brain tumors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how myeloid cells, particularly tumor-associated macrophages and neutrophils, contribute to pediatric high-grade gliomas, a type of brain cancer in children. By analyzing tissue samples from patients and using advanced RNA sequencing techniques, the researchers aim to uncover the unique characteristics of these immune cells in pediatric tumors compared to adult cases. The study seeks to identify potential therapeutic targets that could improve treatment outcomes for affected children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that significantly improve survival rates for children with high-grade gliomas.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in targeting immune cells in adult gliomas, suggesting potential for similar success in pediatric cases.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hambardzumyan, Dolores — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Hambardzumyan, Dolores
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
MT-125: a brain-penetrant treatment to slow glioblastoma spread and growth
A new drug, MT-125, taken by people with recurrent glioblastoma, targets two motor proteins to slow cancer spread and growth inside the brain.
-
How immune myeloid cells affect aggressive childhood brain tumors
Researchers are looking at whether immune cells called macrophages and neutrophils inside and around aggressive childhood brain tumors are linked to tumor behavior and survival in children with high-grade gliomas.
-
MT-125 treatment for recurrent high-grade brain tumors
Adults with recurrent high-grade gliomas will receive the brain-penetrant drug MT-125 to find safe doses and check whether it can slow tumor invasion and growth.
-
Understanding how a specific histone mutation affects brain tumor development in children
This study is looking at how a specific change in a gene related to brain development might lead to brain tumors in kids, with the hope that understanding this could help find better treatments for these tough-to-treat tumors.
-
Developing mRNA therapies for a deadly pediatric brain tumor
This study is exploring a new way to treat a tough brain tumor called diffuse midline glioma in kids by using special particles to deliver gene therapy directly to the tumor, aiming to improve how we fight this disease.
-
Using oncolytic viruses to deliver genes for treating high-grade gliomas
This study is exploring a new way to treat aggressive brain tumors in kids by using special viruses that can target and destroy cancer cells, while also boosting the body's immune system to help fight the cancer better, and some patients may have the chance to try these exciting new treatments in clinical trials.
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.