Targeting immunosuppressive neutrophils to boost brain tumor therapies
Official title: Elucidation of targetable mechanisms sustaining immunosuppressive neutrophils in the brain tumor microenvironment
Funded at Wistar Institute · NIH-11368232 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant aims to uncover how a special group of neutrophils helps brain tumors like glioblastoma resist treatment and to identify ways to block those cells to improve therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wistar Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | May 19, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $651,940 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA303116-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11368232 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with glioblastoma or other brain tumors who provide consent and meet study-specific eligibility criteria.
✕Less likely to help
Some patients may not respond to neutrophil-targeted strategies or may experience treatment-related risks.
What this research studies
In people with brain cancer, the study will look at neutrophils present in the tumor and how they support tumor growth and resistance to immunotherapy. The researchers will study how these neutrophils survive longer, how they metabolize energy, and how changes in their biology contribute to an immunosuppressive tumor environment. By pinpointing specific mechanisms, they hope to develop targeted strategies to weaken these neutrophils and make existing treatments more effective. The work will combine analyses of human tumor samples with models to test potential interventions that could be translated into patient care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new therapies that disable pro-tumor neutrophils and improve responses to immunotherapy for glioblastoma patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in other cancers suggest neutrophils can support tumor growth, but applying precise targeting in brain tumors is still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Wistar Institute
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Veglia, Filippo — Wistar Institute
- Study coordinator: Veglia, Filippo
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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.