Targeting abnormal RNA splicing to fight glioma
Official title: Targeting RNA Splicing in Glioma
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11375486 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project works on ways to stop glioma cells by fixing or blocking abnormal RNA splicing that helps tumors grow, with the goal of helping people with gliomas.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $490,568 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS125318-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11375486 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People diagnosed with glioma (including high-grade tumors) or patients willing to donate tumor samples, especially those whose tumors carry mutations like IDH1 R132, PTEN loss, CDKN2A/B deletions, or EGFRvIII, are the most relevant candidates for this line of research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without glioma or whose tumors do not depend on splicing changes are unlikely to benefit directly from this specific research effort in the near term.
What this research studies
Researchers are using patient tumor RNA data to find distinct RNA splicing patterns in gliomas and link those patterns to tumor grade and common glioma mutations. They will test how specific gene mutations change splicing using lab models derived from human stem cells and patient-derived glioma models. The team will manipulate RNA binding proteins and splicing isoforms with CRISPR and other molecular tools to see how those changes affect glioma stem-like cell growth. Findings may point to new molecular targets and guide future therapies tailored to a tumor's splicing profile.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targets or strategies to slow tumor growth and enable more precise, personalized treatments for glioma patients.
How similar studies have gone: Laboratory work and some early clinical approaches targeting RNA splicing in other cancers have shown promise, but applying splicing-targeted strategies specifically to glioma and validating them in patient-derived glioma models is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cheng, Shi-Yuan — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Cheng, Shi-Yuan
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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.