New ways to treat HER2-positive brain metastases
Official title: Emerging Strategies for Therapy of Metastatic Brain Cancer
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11384500 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research team at Northwestern is testing new ways to get anti-HER2 therapies into brain tumors by using engineered stem cells to deliver trastuzumab-like medicines directly to brain metastases from breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $947,808 |
| NIH project number | 5R35CA283939-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384500 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with HER2-positive breast cancer brain metastases or those at risk of brain metastases may be eligible for related studies or future trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without HER2-positive brain metastases or those not participating in any stem cell delivery aspects may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to understand why HER2-positive breast cancer spreads to the brain and why usual antibody therapies struggle to reach brain tumors. It will study patient tissue to pinpoint risk factors and use advanced imaging to watch cancer cells and neural stem cells in real time. The researchers will also explore delivering engineered stem cells that carry HER2-targeting antibodies to suppress tumor growth in the brain. The work combines basic science with translational steps toward a new, targeted treatment approach for brain metastases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with HER2-positive brain metastases could have more effective, brain-penetrant therapies that slow or stop tumor growth.
How similar studies have gone: Similar strategies using targeted delivery and imaging have shown promise in preclinical models, but this specific approach is novel and translational.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lesniak, Maciej S — Northwestern University
- 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.