Understanding how glial cells contribute to childhood brain tumors
Official title: Glial Origin and Signaling in Medulloblastoma
Funded at Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr · NIH-11026556 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain brain cells might help medulloblastoma, a common brain tumor in kids, come back after treatment, with the hope of finding better ways to help children survive and feel better during their recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $604,852 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS140460-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11026556 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children diagnosed with medulloblastoma, particularly those who have experienced tumor recurrence.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of brain tumors or those who are not diagnosed with medulloblastoma may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children, focusing on the role of glial progenitor cells in tumor recurrence. By analyzing tumor tissues at the single-cell level, the study aims to identify specific cell populations that contribute to the initiation and growth of these tumors. The researchers will explore how these glial cells behave during and after chemotherapy, potentially leading to new therapeutic strategies that target the root causes of tumor recurrence. The ultimate goal is to improve survival rates for affected children while reducing the side effects of treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that significantly improve survival rates for children with medulloblastoma.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting specific cell populations in brain tumors, suggesting that this approach could yield significant advancements in treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lu, Qing R — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Lu, Qing R
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Glial origins and signaling in childhood brain cancer (medulloblastoma)
A new study looks at how glial cells may drive relapse and growth in childhood medulloblastoma, with the goal of finding targeted treatments.
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Next generation GPC2 CARs to treat pediatric medulloblastoma
A new CAR T-cell therapy approach targets a protein common on child brain tumor cells to improve outcomes for kids with medulloblastoma.
-
Targeting medulloblastoma with multispecific T-cell engagers
A pediatric brain cancer treatment study tests a new multi-targeted T-cell engager designed to reach brain tumors and help the immune system kill cancer cells.
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Efflux-aware brain barrier model to guide pediatric medulloblastoma drug discovery
A study using a pediatric brain cancer model to test how radiation-activated digoxin-like compounds could safely reach brain tumors in children.
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Overcoming medulloblastoma resistance in kids using in vivo perturb-seq and preclinical therapies
A patient-focused study aiming to find new, less toxic ways to treat pediatric medulloblastoma by using advanced genetic screening to identify effective drug targets in preclinical models.
-
Dysregulation of a key gene complex and its role in Group 4 medulloblastoma
A study explores how disruption of a core gene complex in brain development may drive Group 4 medulloblastoma and seeks to understand new ways to help affected children.
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.