New treatments for metastatic brain cancer from breast cancer
Official title: Emerging Strategies for Therapy of Metastatic Brain Cancer
Funded at Northwestern University at Chicago · NIH-10976291 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for better ways to treat brain tumors that come from breast cancer, especially for women with HER2+ breast cancer, by understanding how these cancer cells spread to the brain and finding new ways to deliver targeted treatments directly to them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $895,779 |
| NIH project number | 1R35CA283939-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10976291 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are women diagnosed with HER2+ breast cancer that has metastasized to the brain.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with brain cancer not related to breast cancer or those without HER2+ tumors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving therapies for brain metastases caused by breast cancer, which is a leading cause of death for women. The team aims to understand the biology of HER2+ breast cancer cells that spread to the brain and develop methods to enhance the delivery of targeted therapies across the blood-brain barrier. They will utilize patient tissue samples to identify genetic risk factors and explore innovative ways to visualize and target cancer cells using genetically engineered neural stem cells. This approach could lead to more effective treatments for patients with brain metastases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide new, more effective treatment options for patients with metastatic brain cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using targeted therapies for brain metastases, but this approach is innovative and aims to overcome significant barriers in treatment delivery.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lesniak, Maciej S — Northwestern University at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Lesniak, Maciej S
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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.