New approaches for glioblastoma and medulloblastoma
Official title: SPORE in Brain Cancer
Funded at University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11193437 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program tests multiple new treatment approaches for people with glioblastoma (an adult brain tumor) and medulloblastoma (a childhood brain tumor).
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2008 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $2,171,252 |
| NIH project number | 5P50CA127001-17 |
| Project ID | NIH-11193437 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with glioblastoma or children with medulloblastoma who meet trial-specific medical and molecular eligibility and can receive care at participating centers.
✕Less likely to help
People without these tumor types, those who are too medically frail for experimental therapies, or those who do not meet specific trial criteria are unlikely to benefit directly from these trials.
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, this program brings together lab and clinic teams to develop and move new therapies toward patients. They work on many types of treatments, including engineered viruses that kill tumor cells, immune-based therapies, targeted drugs that block cancer pathways, and cell therapies. Promising ideas are first tested in the lab and in preclinical models and then offered in early-phase clinical trials, including 'window-of-opportunity' trials. The group has already carried several agents into clinical testing and continues to open new trials at MD Anderson and partners.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce more effective treatment options that slow tumor growth, extend survival, or improve quality of life for people with these aggressive brain tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Related early-phase studies of oncolytic viruses, targeted inhibitors, and immunotherapies have shown promising signals in some patients but overall remain experimental and are still being refined.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lang, Frederick F — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Lang, Frederick F
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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.