Understanding high-risk neuroblastoma cell types
Official title: Dissecting high-risk cell states in neuroblastoma
Funded at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital · NIH-11285447 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project seeks to find how different cell states in high-risk childhood neuroblastoma change tumor behavior and response to chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $592,554 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA286444-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11285447 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with high-risk or relapsed neuroblastoma would be the most relevant group for future therapies stemming from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without neuroblastoma or those with low-risk neuroblastoma that already responds well to standard therapy are unlikely to benefit directly from this specific work.
What this research studies
From a parent's perspective, researchers are studying why some children's neuroblastoma tumors come back after treatment by looking at different cell types inside the tumor. They will focus on master transcription factors that set those cell states and use tools like cell state reporters and genome engineering in lab-grown tumor cells and animal models to track how cells change. Because pediatric neuroblastoma often has few genetic mutations, the team can focus on epigenetic and cell-state differences that affect drug sensitivity. The hope is to identify biological switches or targets that could make existing therapies work better.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets or strategies that help chemotherapy work more reliably and reduce relapses in high-risk neuroblastoma patients.
How similar studies have gone: Laboratory studies have shown that cell state can influence chemotherapy response, but translating these findings into treatments for patients is still largely experimental.
Where this research is happening
-
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Memphis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Durbin, Adam David — St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Study coordinator: Durbin, Adam David
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.