Targeting glioblastoma with advanced CAR-T cell therapy
Official title: Programming multi-pronged immune response to glioblastoma with IL-13Ra2/TGF-b CAR-T cell therapy.
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11032840 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new type of CAR-T cell therapy for people with glioblastoma, a tough brain cancer, to see if it can better target and attack the cancer cells while also helping the immune system fight back.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $610,097 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS126849-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11032840 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with glioblastoma who have not responded adequately to existing therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of brain tumors or those who are not eligible for CAR-T cell therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new type of CAR-T cell therapy specifically for glioblastoma, a highly aggressive brain cancer. The approach involves creating bispecific CAR-T cells that can recognize and attack glioblastoma cells while also modifying the tumor environment to enhance the immune response. By targeting the IL-13Rα2 antigen and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), the therapy aims to overcome the immunosuppressive barriers that limit the effectiveness of current treatments. Patients may have the opportunity to participate in trials that test this innovative therapy, which could lead to improved outcomes for those with glioblastoma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve survival rates and treatment responses for patients with glioblastoma.
How similar studies have gone: While CAR-T cell therapy has shown promise in other cancers, this specific approach targeting glioblastoma is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Yvonne Yu-Hsuan — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Chen, Yvonne Yu-Hsuan
Related research
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Engineered CAR-T immune cells are designed to attack glioblastoma tumors and boost the local immune response in adults with GBM.
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This project is trying a new CAR‑T cell treatment that targets a common glioblastoma marker and converts the tumor's immune‑suppressing signal into a stimulant to help people with glioblastoma fight their tumors.
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CAR-T Cell Therapy for Brain Tumors
This project explores a new type of immune cell therapy called CAR-T cells to fight aggressive brain tumors in adults.
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Small molecules to block Slit2/ROBO in glioblastoma
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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.