Timed drug-releasing implants to improve treatment for glioblastoma
Tunable Temporal Drug Release for Optimized Synergistic Combination Therapy of Glioblastoma
This work uses biodegradable implants placed after brain tumor surgery to release multiple drugs at controlled times to better treat people with glioblastoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11127655 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I had a glioblastoma and surgery, doctors would place a biodegradable, drug-loaded implant into the cavity left after removing the tumor. The implant is designed to release different cancer drugs at specific times as the material breaks down so the drugs can act together where the tumor is most likely to come back. Delivering drugs directly into the brain helps bypass the blood-brain barrier and may reduce the side effects that come with full-body chemotherapy. Researchers will optimize drug combinations and release schedules in the lab and in preclinical models before any human use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with newly diagnosed glioblastoma who are undergoing surgical removal of their tumor and can receive an implant in the resection cavity would be the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People whose tumors cannot be surgically removed, have diffuse or multifocal disease, or who are not candidates for an implanted device may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lower local tumor recurrence and extend survival while reducing systemic side effects by delivering cooperating drugs directly into the surgery cavity.
How similar studies have performed: Local chemotherapy wafers such as Gliadel have shown modest survival benefit, but timed multi-drug release combinations like this are newer and mostly at the preclinical stage.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ainslie, Kristy M — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Ainslie, Kristy M
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 below.