Understanding how to improve immunotherapy for aggressive brain tumors in children
Official title: Enabling immunotherapy for high-risk Group 3 medulloblastoma via systems immunology
Funded at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital · NIH-10924068 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a tough type of brain tumor in kids called high-risk Group 3 medulloblastoma, and it's trying to find out how these tumors hide from the immune system so that new treatments can be created to help the immune system fight them better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project start | September 7, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $778,050 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA281868-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10924068 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children under 11 years old diagnosed with high-risk Group 3 medulloblastoma.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of brain tumors or those over the age of 11 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on high-risk Group 3 medulloblastoma, a severe type of brain tumor in children. The team aims to uncover how these tumors evade the immune system and to develop effective immunotherapy treatments. Using advanced techniques like single-cell profiling and CRISPR-based screening, they will analyze the tumor environment and identify new targets for therapy. This approach is designed to enhance the immune response against these tumors, potentially leading to better treatment options for affected children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new immunotherapy treatments that significantly improve survival rates for children with high-risk Group 3 medulloblastoma.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies using systems immunology approaches have shown promise in other cancer types, suggesting potential for success in this novel application.
Where this research is happening
-
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Memphis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chi, Hongbo — St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Study coordinator: Chi, Hongbo
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Immunotherapy for high-risk pediatric brain cancer using systems immunology
A program to understand why a dangerous form of childhood brain cancer resists immunotherapy and to develop new immune-based treatments for kids with Group 3 medulloblastoma.
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Nanoparticle immune treatment for SHH‑subtype medulloblastoma
This project tests a tiny‑particle version of an immune drug designed to help children with SHH‑subtype medulloblastoma live longer with fewer lifelong side effects.
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Immune-based treatments for aggressive Group 3 medulloblastoma
Working to unlock the immune system to create new treatments for children with high-risk Group 3 medulloblastoma.
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New treatment for a type of brain cancer in children
This study is testing a new treatment for children with SHH medulloblastoma, a type of brain cancer, using a special drug that helps the immune system fight the cancer while aiming to cause fewer side effects than current therapies.
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Using exosomes to improve immunotherapy for brain tumors in children
This study is testing a new treatment for children with medulloblastoma, a type of brain cancer, by using tiny particles from immune cells to help the body’s immune system fight the tumor more effectively while aiming to reduce side effects from standard treatments.
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Boosting immune response to fight cancer
This study is exploring a new way to help your immune system better fight cancer by tweaking certain cells in your body, and it aims to improve treatment for people with advanced cancer.
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.