Understanding how glioblastoma cells resist radiation treatment

Mitochondria electron transport chain complexes adaptative responses to cellular stress

['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · NIH-11122228

This project explores how brain tumor cells change their energy use to become resistant to radiation, hoping to find new ways to make treatments more effective for glioblastoma patients.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF IOWA (nih funded)
Locations1 site (IOWA CITY, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11122228 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

Glioblastoma, a serious brain cancer, often becomes resistant to radiation therapy, which limits how well treatments work. Our team is looking into how glioblastoma cells adapt their energy production, specifically focusing on changes in their mitochondria, the cell's powerhouses. We believe that by understanding these changes, we can discover why some tumors resist treatment and find new ways to make radiation therapy more successful. This work uses lab-grown cancer cells, patient-derived models, and actual patient tumor samples to uncover these important mechanisms.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Patients with glioblastoma who experience treatment resistance could potentially benefit from future therapies developed from this fundamental understanding.

Not a fit: Patients with conditions other than glioblastoma or those whose tumors do not exhibit radioresistance may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets for drugs that make glioblastoma cells more sensitive to radiation, improving treatment outcomes for patients.

How similar studies have performed: This project explores the assembly of mitochondrial supercomplexes as a novel mechanism for radioresistance in glioblastoma, building on existing research into molecular mechanisms of resistance.

Where this research is happening

IOWA CITY, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Cancers

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.