Oncolytic HSV therapy to boost brain tumor fighting power
Official title: Oncolytic HSV Immunovirotherapy for brain tumors
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11348941 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A treatment using engineered herpes simplex virus designed to attack glioblastoma while helping the immune system fight the cancer in the brain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $627,491 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA285657-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11348941 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with glioblastoma or related brain tumors who are eligible for experimental viral therapies may consider participation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients unlikely to benefit include those with conditions that make brain viral therapies unsafe or unsuitable for trial participation.
What this research studies
This project uses a genetically engineered oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) called G47Δ to target glioblastoma in the brain. It aims to combine the virus’s cancer-killing action with immune-boosting strategies and to counteract the tumor’s immune-suppressing environment driven by adenosine. Researchers will study how well this approach works in a brain cancer setting and how it interacts with immune cells and the tumor’s blood vessels. The work is designed to advance toward safer and more effective therapies for patients with GBM.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to a more powerful brain cancer treatment that stimulates the immune response while directly attacking tumor cells.
How similar studies have gone: Previous oHSV approaches have shown signals of activity and safety in brain tumors, with ongoing optimization for enhanced efficacy.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Martuza, Robert L — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Martuza, Robert L
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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.