New Nanotherapies for Brain Tumors
Official title: Development of novel nanotherapeutics to overcome therapy resistance using canine brain tumor as a spontaneous model
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11124143 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores tiny new treatments called nanotherapeutics to help patients with aggressive brain tumors overcome resistance to current therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $634,743 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA294557-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11124143 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is aimed at eventually benefiting patients diagnosed with high-grade gliomas, including glioblastoma, who face therapy resistance.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without high-grade gliomas or those whose tumors do not exhibit therapy resistance may not directly benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
High-grade brain tumors like glioblastoma are very difficult to treat, and new drug approvals have been rare because these tumors often become resistant to therapy. This project aims to create innovative nanotherapeutics designed to bypass this resistance. Researchers are using companion dogs with naturally occurring brain tumors as a model, which closely mimics human disease, to test these new treatments. The goal is to target a process called autophagy, which helps tumor cells survive and resist drugs, ultimately improving treatment outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for aggressive brain tumors, potentially extending lives and improving quality of life for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Aminoquinoline drugs, which also target autophagy, have shown positive effects in improving outcomes in some clinical trials, suggesting this approach has promise.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Yuanpei — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Li, Yuanpei
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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.