Understanding and interrupting brain metastasis in cancer patients
Official title: Deconvolution and interruption of the cancer-neuro-immune axis facilitating brain metastases
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11517622 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A national research effort at Stanford aims to understand why cancer spreads to the brain and to develop ways to interrupt it, with the goal of improving survival and quality of life for people with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $462,000 |
| NIH project number | 3U54CA261717-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11517622 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancer who may develop or have brain metastases could participate in future related studies or trials through participating centers.
✕Less likely to help
Some patients may not directly benefit if their cancer does not involve the brain or if brain metastasis biology differs from studied mechanisms.
What this research studies
This project brings together brain and cancer experts to study how cancer cells travel to and grow in the brain. It creates new structures and cores to share human brain tissue and advanced research tools, so scientists can test ideas more efficiently. The work focuses on identifying key factors that enable brain metastases and developing potential strategies to block them, with potential benefits for patients who have or are at risk for brain metastases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could lead to new treatments that prevent or slow brain metastases, improving outcomes for cancer patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in brain metastasis has identified multiple mediators, but effective therapies remain limited; this project builds on ongoing efforts with a collaborative, resource-rich approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hayden Gephart, Melanie — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Hayden Gephart, Melanie
Related research
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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.