Using brain imaging to forecast glioblastoma growth and treatment response
Official title: Imaging-based tumor forecasting to predict brain tumor progression and response to therapy
Funded at University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11190862 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will use advanced MRI scans plus computer models to predict how a glioblastoma tumor may grow and respond to standard treatments for people with this diagnosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,877,237 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA260003-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11190862 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People diagnosed with glioblastoma who have serial MRI scans and are receiving standard treatments like surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy are the best fit.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of brain tumors, no available MRI imaging, or those not receiving standard-of-care treatment may not benefit from this work.
What this research studies
If you have glioblastoma, the team will use your routine and advanced brain images to build a personalized computer model of your tumor. The models include key tumor behaviors such as new blood vessel growth, areas of low oxygen, cell death, and how tumor cells spread and resist therapy. Researchers will compare model predictions against detailed lab and imaging data in pre-clinical testing to improve accuracy before using them clinically. Over time the approach aims to tailor timing and choice of standard treatments to each patient’s tumor behavior.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors choose and time treatments more precisely so patients avoid ineffective therapies and may achieve better outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior small human and modeling studies have shown promise, but this approach has not yet been systematically validated in pre-clinical settings or widely adopted in routine care.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Quarles, Christopher Chad — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Quarles, Christopher Chad
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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.