Understanding how brain tumors interact with nerve cells
Official title: Decoding hyperexcitability in malignant glioma
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-10949100 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how aggressive brain tumors called malignant gliomas interact with nearby nerve cells to find new ways to improve treatment for patients like you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $80,433 |
| NIH project number | 4K00CA274700-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10949100 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with malignant gliomas, particularly those with glioblastoma.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-malignant brain tumors or those without brain tumors may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms behind malignant gliomas, a type of aggressive brain tumor, and their interactions with surrounding nerve cells. By exploring how glioma cells communicate with non-tumor neurons, the study aims to uncover new therapeutic targets that could improve treatment outcomes. The research utilizes advanced techniques, including mouse models, to analyze the role of specific proteins in tumor growth and maintenance. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to innovative treatment strategies for glioblastoma and other malignant gliomas.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that significantly improve survival rates for patients with malignant gliomas.
How similar studies have gone: Other research in cancer neuroscience has shown promise in understanding tumor-neuron interactions, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Curry, Rachel Naomi — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Curry, Rachel Naomi
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Synergistic blood-brain barrier opening and targeted glioma treatment with pulsed electric fields
A new approach uses tiny, rapid electric pulses to safely disrupt the brain's protective barrier and enhance targeted treatment for malignant glioma.
-
Neural stem cells carrying cancer-killing viruses to treat brain cancer
A study tests delivering a virus that specifically targets brain tumors using neural stem cells to reach cancer cells across the brain.
-
Self-assembling camptothecin gel for local brain tumor treatment
A Johns Hopkins-led study is testing a new injectable gel that releases a cancer drug over time to help treat glioblastoma after brain tumor surgery.
-
Inhibiting IDH1 to Trigger Ferroptosis in Aggressive Brain Cancer
Aimed at slowing hard-to-treat brain tumors by blocking a cancer-fueling enzyme (IDH1) in tumors that don’t have a common mutation, potentially making tumors easier to kill with radiation or immune therapies.
-
Neural stem cell delivery of cancer‑killing virus for malignant brain tumors
This work uses neural stem cells to carry cancer‑killing viruses into the brain to treat people with malignant glioma.
-
Camptothecin nanofiber gel placed after brain tumor surgery
This project is building a drug-releasing gel surgeons could place in the cavity after removing a malignant glioma to kill leftover cancer cells and help patients live longer.
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.