UCLA program developing new treatments for brain tumors
UCLA SPORE in Brain Cancer
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · NIH-11210549
This program will combine immune-based therapies and engineered CAR-T cells to try to help people with aggressive brain tumors like glioblastoma.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11210549 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
At UCLA, researchers are running linked lab and clinical projects to learn why brain tumors become resistant to treatment and how to overcome that resistance. They plan to test dendritic-cell vaccines and drugs that block immune-suppressing signals, study ways to restore tumor cell death pathways, and develop CAR-T cell approaches that target both tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment. Work includes lab studies using tumor samples and preclinical models to guide new combination therapies and clinical studies where patients may receive experimental immunotherapies at UCLA. The team aims to find treatment combinations that produce longer-lasting responses and reduce the chance that tumors stop responding.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with high-grade or recurrent brain tumors such as glioblastoma who can travel to UCLA and are medically able to receive immunotherapy or cell-based treatments.
Not a fit: People with low-grade brain tumors, non-tumor neurological conditions, or who are medically ineligible for immunotherapy or unable to travel to UCLA may not be eligible or benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could yield new combination immunotherapies and cell therapies that control brain tumors better and reduce treatment resistance.
How similar studies have performed: Early-phase trials of vaccines, checkpoint inhibitors, and CAR-T cells in brain tumors have shown limited but encouraging results, making this combined, multi-pronged approach relatively new.
Where this research is happening
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES — LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LIAU, LINDA M — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- Study coordinator: LIAU, LINDA 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.