Understanding how immune cells affect brain tumors
Engineer Biomimetic Microfluidic Models to Investigate and Reprogram Tumor Associated Neutrophils for Cancer Therapy
This project is creating new lab tools to understand how certain immune cells called neutrophils interact with human brain tumors, hoping to find better ways to treat cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11135588 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We know that immune cells called neutrophils play a complex role in how tumors grow and respond to treatments like chemotherapy. This project aims to build tiny, lifelike models using human stem cells to observe how these neutrophils behave in brain tumors, specifically glioblastoma. By watching these interactions closely, we hope to uncover new ways to target these immune cells to make cancer treatments more effective. This approach helps us learn about human biology directly, rather than relying solely on animal studies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patient participation, but future clinical trials stemming from this work would likely seek patients with glioblastoma.
Not a fit: Patients not diagnosed with glioblastoma or other cancers where neutrophils play a similar role would not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new therapies that target neutrophils to improve treatment outcomes for patients with glioblastoma and potentially other cancers.
How similar studies have performed: While the role of neutrophils in cancer is known, this approach of using advanced microfluidic models with human stem cells to understand their specific mechanisms in glioblastoma is a novel and promising method.
Where this research is happening
West Lafayette, United States
- Purdue University — West Lafayette, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bao, Xiaoping — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Bao, Xiaoping
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 below.