Murine brain tumor model to test herpes-based cancer therapy
Official title: Development of murine glioblastoma model for oncolytic HSV therapy
Funded at Lsu Health Sciences Center · NIH-11416177 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will develop a mouse model of aggressive brain tumors to safely test herpes-based viral therapies aimed at treating malignant glioblastoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lsu Health Sciences Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project start | July 9, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $375,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R33NS128191-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11416177 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals with aggressive brain tumors or patients who may participate in future trials of HSV-based therapies once safety and efficacy are established.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not involved in preclinical animal studies or those not eligible for HSV-based therapy development may not directly benefit at this stage.
What this research studies
This project creates an immune-competent mouse brain tumor model that mimics human grade IV glioblastoma and allows testing of oncolytic HSV-1 viruses. The model aims to be permissive to HSV-1 infection while remaining manageable and reproducible for safety and efficacy studies. Results could inform future development of HSV-based therapies for patients with brain tumors. The work focuses on understanding how these viruses interact with brain tumors in a living system to support safer, more effective treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could accelerate the development of HSV-based therapies for aggressive brain cancers, potentially leading to new treatment options for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Similar offshoots in HSV-based oncolytic therapy have shown promise in early models and clinical contexts in other cancers; this work focuses on improving brain-tumor models to enable safer testing.
Where this research is happening
-
Lsu Health Sciences Center
New Orleans, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kaur, Balveen — Lsu Health Sciences Center
- Study coordinator: Kaur, Balveen
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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.