Using tiny implant devices to test many drugs in brain tumor patients
Official title: Using implantable microdevices for deep phenotyping of multiple drug responses in brain tumor patients
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11380803 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A clinical study will place small implantable devices into brain tumors during surgery to test how 20 different treatments work in 32 glioma patients, guiding future personalized therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $937,793 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA283905-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380803 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 or older with gliomas who are undergoing tumor resection and consent to participate.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not respond to the tested treatments or who cannot safely have the device implanted may not benefit.
What this research studies
During scheduled tumor removals, tiny implantable devices will be placed in the tumor to expose it to 20 different therapies and then be removed with the tumor tissue. The devices will provide readouts on energy pathways, immune signals, and gene activity to identify which treatments may work best for each patient. The study will focus on safety, practicality, and how well this approach can be integrated into standard care. Results could help tailor adjuvant therapy for glioma patients and improve future treatment decisions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help doctors pick the most effective drugs for individual brain tumor patients, potentially improving outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown promise in small cohorts using localized biomarker readouts, with this study expanding to 20 therapies across more patients.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jonas, Oliver — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Jonas, Oliver
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Multi-center pediatric brain and spinal cord tumor treatment network
Testing early-phase experimental treatments for children and young adults with brain and spinal cord tumors.
-
Safer T cell engagers for pediatric and adult brain tumors
A potential new treatment using T cell engaging proteins to help fight brain tumors in both children and adults.
-
Non-invasive MR‑guided brain hyperthermia to boost brain cancer treatment
A new MR‑compatible device heats brain tumors non‑invasively to help radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy work better for brain cancer.
-
Advanced brain imaging after proton therapy in kids with brain tumors
This project looks at how advanced 7T MRI imaging can show long-term blood vessel and brain changes in children who have had proton radiotherapy for brain tumors.
-
Rapid CEST MRI for Brain Tumor Imaging at 3T
A high-tech MRI method is being developed to better distinguish brain tumors from treatment effects in patients using faster, more accurate scans.
-
AI-powered tool to diagnose and predict muscle disease in child brain-tumor survivors
A pediatric brain-tumor survivor-focused project will use AI on routine imaging to identify muscle loss and forecast related health problems.
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.