OPTIMUM: Engaging LGG patients in understanding how low-grade brain tumors evolve
Official title: OPTimIzing engageMent in discovery of molecular evolution of low grade glioma (OPTIMUM)
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11421826 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large study plans to involve people with low-grade glioma to map how their tumors change from initial diagnosis to recurrence using patient-friendly data sharing and trial connections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,299,632 |
| NIH project number | 5U2CCA252979-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11421826 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with WHO grade II/III glioma who have had surgical resection at diagnosis and at recurrence and want to participate in research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not comfortable sharing medical records online or who do not want to participate in a genomic characterization study may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to enroll about 700 LGG patients who had surgery at diagnosis and at recurrence and invite them to contribute their health data. Researchers will use hospital records alongside online tools and a secure personal health record to move data safely between patients and scientists. The study will also use a patient-friendly platform to help locate clinical trials tailored to LGG. By improving engagement and communication, the team hopes to accelerate understanding of tumor evolution and genomic changes in LGG.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Patients could gain faster access to relevant findings and trials, and contribute to improvements in how LGG is managed in the future.
How similar studies have gone: Prior LGG registries and engagement efforts have shown that patient participation improves data completeness and study relevance.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Claus, Elizabeth B. — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Claus, Elizabeth B.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Targeted therapies for pediatric low-grade glioma
A pediatric brain tumor project aims to find better, safer targeted treatments for kids with low-grade gliomas.
-
Understanding how diffuse low-grade gliomas disrupt cortical information processing
This study looks at how a common adult brain tumor changes brain circuits and thinking skills, with the aim of guiding better therapies for cognitive problems.
-
Targeting O-mannosylation in pediatric brain tumors driven by BRAF fusion
A pediatric brain tumor project is exploring whether blocking a specific sugar-modifying process called POMT-mediated O-mannosylation can stop tumor growth in tumors driven by KIAA1549-BRAF fusions.
-
Druggable targets in pediatric low-grade glioma through multi-modal data and screening
A pediatric brain tumor study aims to find new drug targets by integrating imaging, genetics, and biology data to tailor treatments for children with low-grade gliomas.
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Improving patient participation to track how lower-grade brain tumors change over time
This project works with adults who have lower-grade (WHO II/III) glioma to collect surgical tumor samples, medical records, and feedback so researchers can better understand how their tumors change from diagnosis to recurrence.
-
Targeted treatments for childhood low-grade brain tumors
Seeing if more precise RAF-targeting drugs and drug combinations can improve treatment for children with low-grade gliomas, especially tumors with BRAF changes.
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.