Translating new treatments for brain tumors
Official title: SPORE for Translational Approaches to Brain Cancer
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11187066 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program brings doctors and researchers together to create and test new treatment options for people with glioblastoma and other brain tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 17, 2018 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $2,140,963 |
| NIH project number | 5P50CA221747-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11187066 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with glioblastoma or other primary brain tumors who are treated at or can travel to Northwestern and who may be eligible for clinical trials or tissue donation.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without primary brain tumors or those unable to access Northwestern or its affiliated trial sites are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this program.
What this research studies
From a patient point of view, a multidisciplinary team at Northwestern combines surgery, drug development, immune therapies, and laboratory studies to turn lab findings into treatments you could access. They collect tumor samples and clinical information, run lab and animal work to find promising approaches, and advance the most hopeful therapies into early clinical trials. Several projects run in parallel so discoveries can move more quickly from the lab to patients. If you have a brain tumor, this program aims to expand the treatment and trial options available at Northwestern.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could produce new clinical trials and treatments that improve survival and quality of life for people with brain tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous SPORE and translational programs have generated promising clinical trials for brain cancer, but glioblastoma remains challenging and many approaches are still experimental.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lesniak, Maciej S — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Lesniak, Maciej S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Social connections and quality of life for kids who survived brain cancer
This project follows pediatric brain cancer survivors as they grow into adults to understand how their social connections affect their happiness and mental well-being.
-
Brain cancer and brain-glia communication: how tumor cells and microglia talk to each other to drive gbm growth
A patient-facing look at how GBM tumors may manipulate brain immune cells to grow, and how understanding this communication could lead to new treatments.
-
Clarified imaging reports to reduce anxiety for adult survivors of pediatric brain cancer
Adult survivors of pediatric brain cancer may get anxious about scan results, and clearer imaging reports delivered through patient portals could help reduce worry and improve understanding.
-
MRI-guided brain tumor surgery robot to improve laser ablation
A new MRI-compatible robotic system helps precise, real-time laser treatment for brain tumors inside the MRI suite.
-
Brain cancer therapies to help kids and adults with glioblastoma and medulloblastoma
A large NIH grant supports translating promising brain cancer therapies from the lab into patient trials to help people with glioblastoma and medulloblastoma.
-
Brain cancer: Translational approaches to improve outcomes for glioblastoma patients
A team at Northwestern is working on better ways to treat glioblastoma, the deadliest brain cancer, with a focus on translating discoveries into real therapies.
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.