NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Understanding how tumor cells grow and survive in aggressive childhood brain tumors

Official title: Investigation of tumor stem cell maintenance and cellular hierarchy in pediatric high-grade glioma

Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-10890190 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at aggressive brain tumors in kids to understand the different types of cells in these tumors and how they help them grow, with the hope of finding better treatments to help children live longer.

More Glioma research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Colorado Denver
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES)
Project startAugust 1, 2022
Project endJune 30, 2027
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$93,872
NIH project number5K00CA274654-03
Project IDNIH-10890190 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are children diagnosed with high-grade gliomas, particularly those with diffuse midline gliomas or hemispheric histone 3-wild type tumors.

Less likely to help

Patients with low-grade gliomas or other types of brain tumors may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on pediatric high-grade gliomas, which are aggressive brain tumors in children. The study aims to identify the different types of cells within these tumors and how they contribute to tumor growth and survival. By using advanced techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing, researchers will analyze tumor samples to uncover the biological characteristics that drive these cancers. The ultimate goal is to find new therapeutic options that can improve survival rates for affected children.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of more effective treatments for pediatric high-grade gliomas, potentially improving survival rates.

How similar studies have gone: While there have been numerous studies on pediatric brain tumors, this specific approach focusing on tumor stem cells and cellular hierarchy is relatively novel and untested.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Colorado Denver
    Aurora, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Desisto, John a — University of Colorado Denver
  • Study coordinator: Desisto, John a

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.