Ultra-fast (FLASH) radiation to protect children’s brains during medulloblastoma treatment
Official title: Improving pediatric brain tumor treatments using FLASH radiotherapy
Funded at University of California-Irvine · NIH-11143123 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project sees if delivering radiation in an ultra-fast burst called FLASH can treat medulloblastoma in children while causing fewer long-term problems with thinking and brain blood vessels.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $484,314 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA254892-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11143123 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children diagnosed with medulloblastoma who require cranial radiotherapy would be the most relevant candidates for future trials of this approach.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors are not medulloblastoma or who will not receive cranial radiation are unlikely to benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
Researchers will implant human medulloblastoma tumors into mice and compare ultra-high dose-rate FLASH radiation (given in a fraction of a second) with standard, slower radiation (given over minutes). They will track tumor control and test learning, memory, and blood-vessel health after treatment. Short-term (1 month) and longer-term (4–6 months) follow-up will measure both cancer response and late brain effects. Results will help decide if FLASH should move toward clinical trials for children with medulloblastoma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, FLASH could reduce long-term neurocognitive and cerebrovascular side effects of brain radiation while keeping tumor control.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical animal studies have shown promising reductions in normal tissue damage with FLASH, but human clinical evidence is still limited.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Limoli, Charles — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Limoli, Charles
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A new approach uses ultra-high dose-rate radiation (FLASH) to treat childhood brain tumors in mouse models, aiming to reduce normal brain damage while keeping tumor control.
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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.