Where pineoblastoma comes from and how to treat it
Deconstructing pineoblastoma origins to advance disease biology, modeling, and therapy
Researchers are uncovering the causes of pineoblastoma in infants and children and building lab models to help develop safer, more targeted treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11117149 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As a parent or patient, I would know that scientists are studying tumor samples from children with pineoblastoma to identify distinct molecular subgroups that drive the disease. They will use patient-derived data to create new laboratory models that mirror each subgroup and to test potential therapies in the lab. This work builds on recent genetic and molecular profiling that found four subgroups, including types linked to RB1 and MYC/FOXR2 changes. The aim is to guide future treatments so they work better for a child's specific tumor while limiting harm to the developing brain.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are infants, children, and adolescents diagnosed with pineoblastoma whose care teams can contribute tumor tissue or clinical data for research.
Not a fit: People without pineoblastoma or those who cannot or do not wish to donate tumor tissue are unlikely to see direct benefits from this project in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could enable more accurate diagnoses, better preclinical models, and targeted treatments that reduce long-term damage to children's brains.
How similar studies have performed: Prior molecular profiling studies have already defined four pineoblastoma subgroups now reflected in the WHO classification, but developing robust models and translating that knowledge into therapies is still largely new work.
Where this research is happening
Memphis, United States
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital — Memphis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Northcott, Paul — St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Study coordinator: Northcott, Paul
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 below.