Optical Genome Mapping to Improve Diagnosis of Pediatric Brain Tumors
Official title: Optical Genome Mapping As a Novel Diagnostic Approach in Pediatric Brain Tumors
Funded at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago · NIH-11372183 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new test using Optical Genome Mapping could help diagnose brain tumors in children faster and more accurately, guiding better treatment choices.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | July 23, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $760,888 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA288496-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11372183 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with suspected or confirmed brain tumors who require comprehensive molecular diagnostics.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not harbor detectable SVs by OGM or who cannot undergo the testing may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to use Optical Genome Mapping to uncover structural variants in pediatric brain tumors that traditional tests may miss, helping doctors tailor therapies. It builds on existing molecular findings to improve diagnostic speed and accuracy for kids with brain tumors. The study will compare OGM results with current DNA/RNA panels and FISH to see if it reveals clinically meaningful alterations sooner. If successful, this approach could shorten time to treatment and enable more personalized care for young patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive faster, more precise diagnoses and more effective, individualized treatment plans.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary findings in ~60 pediatric brain tumor samples suggest OGM can reveal known and cryptic SVs not found by standard tests.
Where this research is happening
-
Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bornhorst, Miriam a. — Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Bornhorst, Miriam a.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
ONC206 for children with brain tumors: a first-in-children trial
A first-in-children trial will test the safety and early signs of effectiveness of ONC206, taken by mouth, in kids with malignant brain tumors like diffuse midline gliomas.
-
ONC206 for children with malignant brain tumors
A first-in-children trial tests the safety and early effectiveness of a pill that can cross the brain barrier to treat pediatric brain tumors.
-
ONC206 for children with dangerous brain tumors
A first-in-children study tests the safety and early effectiveness of an oral drug, ONC206, for kids with high-risk brain tumors that have spread or recurred.
-
Oral bacteria and brain metastasis: how the mouth may influence brain tumors
A study exploring how oral microbes may affect brain metastases and patient outcomes, with potential to guide new microbiome-based approaches.
-
Bioengineered brain barrier chip to improve drug screening for brain tumors
A small, patient-friendly brain barrier chip is being developed to test drugs for glioblastoma more accurately before they reach clinical trials.
-
Understanding how epigenetic changes drive pediatric brain tumor recurrence and how reversing them could help
A pediatric brain cancer research project is exploring how an epigenetic change (H3K27M) and tumor environment contribute to tumor coming back, using a reversible mouse model to study potential ways to prevent recurrence.
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.