Pediatric brain tumor treatment with ultra-fast radiation therapy
Official title: Improving pediatric brain tumor treatments using FLASH radiotherapy
Funded at University of California-Irvine · NIH-11397562 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach uses ultra-high dose-rate radiation (FLASH) to treat childhood brain tumors in mouse models, aiming to reduce normal brain damage while keeping tumor control.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $338,690 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA254892-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397562 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are pediatric patients with brain tumors similar to medulloblastoma who may benefit from reduced normal tissue toxicity.
✕Less likely to help
This preclinical work does not involve directly treating patients; human benefits depend on future clinical translation.
What this research studies
This project translates FLASH radiotherapy into clinical practice for children with medulloblastoma. Researchers will compare FLASH with standard radiation in orthotopic pediatric brain tumor models to see if normal brain tissue damage is less while still stopping the tumor. They will study short- and long-term effects on cognition, blood vessels, and molecular pathways in both tumor-bearing and tumor-free mice. The work combines tumor control assessments with neurocognitive and vascular outcomes over several months.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, FLASH radiotherapy could lessen long-term cognitive and neurological side effects for children treated for brain tumors while preserving tumor control.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies in FLASH radiotherapy have shown potential for reduced normal tissue damage with comparable tumor control in models.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Limoli, Charles — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Limoli, Charles
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Proton versus x‑ray radiation: thinking, symptoms, and daily function after childhood brain tumor treatment
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Compares proton beam and conventional x‑ray brain radiation in children with brain tumors to find which approach leads to fewer side effects, better thinking skills, and improved daily functioning.
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Ultra-fast (FLASH) radiation to protect children’s brains during medulloblastoma treatment
This project sees if delivering radiation in an ultra-fast burst called FLASH can treat medulloblastoma in children while causing fewer long-term problems with thinking and brain blood vessels.
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.