Training program for understanding the relationship between cancer and the nervous system
Official title: Cancer Neuroscience Training Program
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-10878915 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring how brain tumors and nerves work together, and it's designed for postdoctoral fellows who want to learn how nerve activity can affect tumor growth and how cancer treatments might impact thinking and memory.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Training grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $550,907 |
| NIH project number | 5T32CA272386-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10878915 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are postdoctoral fellows with Ph.D. or M.D. degrees interested in the intersection of cancer and neuroscience.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not in training or do not have a background in neuroscience or cancer research may not benefit directly from this program.
What this research studies
This program focuses on the emerging field of Cancer Neuroscience, which investigates how tumors and the nervous system interact. Using advanced technologies like optogenetics and single cell genomics, the program aims to train postdoctoral fellows in understanding how electrically active neurons can influence the growth of gliomas and how cancer therapies can affect cognitive function. The training will be conducted at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, providing a unique opportunity for scientific and professional development in this innovative area of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights and therapies that improve outcomes for patients with brain tumors and mitigate cognitive impairments caused by cancer treatments.
How similar studies have gone: This approach is novel and represents a first-of-its-kind training program in the field of Cancer Neuroscience, although related research has shown promise in understanding cancer's impact on the nervous system.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Batchelor, Tracy T — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Batchelor, Tracy T
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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.