Targeting MMP14 to overcome therapeutic resistance in brain tumors
Funded at University of Miami School of Medicine · NIH-11450617 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new drug approach aims to make brain tumor treatments work better by hitting a specific enzyme (MMP14) that helps tumors resist therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $547,621 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA308826-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11450617 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with glioblastoma or related brain tumors who may benefit from enhanced chemoradiation and immunotherapy strategies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not rely on MMP14 pathways or who cannot tolerate the proposed therapy may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on a brain cancer type called glioblastoma, which is very hard to treat. It tests a brain-penetrant inhibitor called (R)-ND336 that specifically blocks MMP14, a protein linked to therapy resistance. By disrupting MMP14, the study hopes to weaken tumor defenses, boost the effects of chemoradiation, and stimulate anti-tumor immunity. Early data suggest that blocking MMP14 can slow tumor growth and improve survival in animal models. If successful, this could lead to more effective treatment options for patients with brain tumors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make brain tumor therapies more effective and extend patient survival.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data show MMP14 blockade improves response to radiation and reduces tumor aggressiveness in models similar to human GBM.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Miami School of Medicine
Coral Gables, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Welford, Scott Michael — University of Miami School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Welford, Scott Michael
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
ONC206 for children with brain tumors: a first-in-children trial
A first-in-children trial will test the safety and early signs of effectiveness of ONC206, taken by mouth, in kids with malignant brain tumors like diffuse midline gliomas.
-
ONC206 for children with malignant brain tumors
A first-in-children trial tests the safety and early effectiveness of a pill that can cross the brain barrier to treat pediatric brain tumors.
-
ONC206 for children with dangerous brain tumors
A first-in-children study tests the safety and early effectiveness of an oral drug, ONC206, for kids with high-risk brain tumors that have spread or recurred.
-
Oral bacteria and brain metastasis: how the mouth may influence brain tumors
A study exploring how oral microbes may affect brain metastases and patient outcomes, with potential to guide new microbiome-based approaches.
-
Bioengineered brain barrier chip to improve drug screening for brain tumors
A small, patient-friendly brain barrier chip is being developed to test drugs for glioblastoma more accurately before they reach clinical trials.
-
Understanding how epigenetic changes drive pediatric brain tumor recurrence and how reversing them could help
A pediatric brain cancer research project is exploring how an epigenetic change (H3K27M) and tumor environment contribute to tumor coming back, using a reversible mouse model to study potential ways to prevent recurrence.
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.