Using daily rhythms to improve treatment for brain cancer
Official title: Circadian interventions against glioblastoma
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11004669 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at the best times to give chemotherapy for glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer, by observing how brain activity changes throughout the day, with the hope of finding ways to make treatments like Temozolomide more effective for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $390,062 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS134885-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11004669 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children and young adults diagnosed with glioblastoma who may benefit from innovative treatment approaches.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of brain tumors or those who are not eligible for chemotherapy may not receive benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the timing of chemotherapy can be optimized to enhance its effectiveness against glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer. By studying the daily rhythms of neuronal activity, the researchers aim to identify the best times to administer treatments like Temozolomide. They will use advanced mouse models that mimic human brain tumors to explore how these tumors respond to treatment based on the time of day. The goal is to discover new therapeutic strategies that could significantly improve patient outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatment schedules for glioblastoma, potentially improving survival rates and quality of life for patients.
How similar studies have gone: While timed delivery of chemotherapy has shown success in other cancers, this approach in glioblastoma is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Herzog, Erik — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Herzog, Erik
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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.