Mapping how cancer drugs reach and affect glioblastoma tumors
Pharmacologic and Genomic Imaging Core
This program maps where cancer drugs go inside glioblastoma tumors and links that information to tumor biology to help people with glioblastoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11164783 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The Pharmacologic and Genomic Imaging Core analyzes patient tumor samples and well-characterized mouse tumor models to map drug concentration and tumor response. It combines micro-scale lab analyses with whole-organ in vivo imaging and aligns these images across scales. The core integrates drug distribution, histopathology, metabolomics, and single-cell gene activity to build a detailed picture of tumor and microenvironment behavior. It functions as a shared resource providing technology and expertise to researchers across the Harvard/Stanford program.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with newly diagnosed or recurrent glioblastoma who are undergoing surgery and willing to donate tumor tissue and imaging data are the most likely candidates to contribute to this work.
Not a fit: Patients who are not having surgery, children, or those seeking direct access to experimental therapies should not expect direct clinical benefit from this core activity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help clinicians and researchers choose or design treatments that actually reach and affect the right tumor cells in glioblastoma.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies show that uneven drug delivery and tumor heterogeneity limit treatment success, but combining detailed drug-mapping with single-cell genomic and multiscale imaging is a relatively new and advanced approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Suva, Mario Luca — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Suva, Mario Luca
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 below.