Understanding Why Some Pediatric Medulloblastoma Treatments Fail
Official title: Uncovering the Signaling Mechanisms Underlying Treatment Failure in Medulloblastoma
Funded at Medical University of South Carolina · NIH-11381785 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying why medulloblastoma, a pediatric brain tumor, stops responding to treatment and how to stop those relapse cells from growing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $517,122 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS138021-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11381785 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pediatric patients with medulloblastoma or samples from these patients may be involved, particularly those with relapsed disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumor biology does not involve the relapse-driving glia-committed progenitor cells may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at the signals that let certain brain tumor cells survive therapy in children with medulloblastoma. It focuses on specific glial-like progenitor cells that may drive relapse when exposed to chemotherapy or SHH-targeted drugs. The team will map the signaling pathways in these cells and test combinations of drugs to block both overall tumor growth and the relapse-driving cells. The goal is to identify targets that could lead to more durable responses for kids whose cancer returns after treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new drug targets and combination therapies to prevent relapse and improve survival for children with medulloblastoma.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has shown that relapse can involve heterogeneous tumor cell populations and glial-lineage progenitors, suggesting this approach has a plausible path to impact.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rodriguez-Blanco, Jezabel — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Rodriguez-Blanco, Jezabel
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.
-
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.