Understanding how certain mutations cause brain cancer
Official title: Deciphering mechanisms of transcriptional repression which drive midline glioma
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-10861585 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a tough brain cancer called diffuse midline glioma (DMG) to understand how certain changes in a protein can help the cancer grow, with the hope of finding new ways to treat it that could help patients in the future.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | July 3, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $475,431 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA288596-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10861585 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma, both children and adults.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of brain tumors or those who do not have diffuse midline glioma may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates diffuse midline glioma (DMG), a deadly brain cancer that affects both children and adults. The focus is on understanding how specific mutations in histone H3 lead to the silencing of tumor suppressor genes, which contributes to tumor growth. By using advanced techniques like CRISPR screens and proteomics, the study aims to identify new therapeutic targets that could lead to effective treatments for this aggressive cancer. Patients may benefit from insights that could eventually lead to the development of targeted therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatment options for patients suffering from diffuse midline glioma.
How similar studies have gone: While research on gliomas is ongoing, this specific approach using CRISPR and epigenetic mechanisms is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Phillips, Richard E — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Phillips, Richard E
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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.