Stopping a tumor chemical that silences immune cells in glioblastoma
Official title: Quinolinate-induced immune suppression in glioblastoma
Funded at William Beaumont Hospital Research Inst · NIH-11160577 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing whether blocking a chemical called quinolinate can stop glioblastoma from turning off immune cells and help treatments work better for people with GBM.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | William Beaumont Hospital Research Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Royal Oak, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $380,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS129744-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11160577 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with glioblastoma (newly diagnosed or recurrent) who are willing to consider clinical trials targeting tumor metabolism or immune responses would be the likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without glioblastoma or those with health issues that prevent trial participation are unlikely to benefit directly from this work in the near term.
What this research studies
This project looks at how glioblastoma makes a molecule called quinolinate that pushes immune cells called macrophages into a tumor-helping (M2) state. Scientists will use lab-grown tumor cells and mouse models with brain tumors to trace the steps by which quinolinate rewires immune and metabolic pathways. They will try ways to block quinolinate production or change macrophage behavior to restore anti-tumor immunity. The hope is that making the tumor environment less suppressive will allow immune-based treatments to work better against GBM.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve the effectiveness of immunotherapies and slow tumor growth in people with glioblastoma.
How similar studies have gone: Previous trials targeting immune checkpoints or general tryptophan metabolism in glioblastoma have shown limited success, so targeting quinolinate and macrophage reprogramming is a newer, promising direction.
Where this research is happening
-
William Beaumont Hospital Research Inst
Royal Oak, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chinnaiyan, Prakash — William Beaumont Hospital Research Inst
- Study coordinator: Chinnaiyan, Prakash
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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.