# Innovative approaches for the advancement of glioblastoma therapies

> **NIH NIH R50** · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · 2021 · $132,481

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Glioblastoma is a devastating brain tumor. Approximately 10,000 new cases are diagnosed annually in the
United States, and median survival is approximately 15 months. New therapies for glioblastoma are badly
needed. My role as a Research Specialist is to support the activities of Dr E. Antonio Chiocca and other PIs
and staff in the Harvey W. Cushing Neurooncology Laboratories (HCNL) at Brigham and Women’s Hospital,
where we are dedicated to developing new treatments for glioblastoma. As well as my deep experience in
state-of-the-art techniques in biochemistry/molecular and cell biology, I am a specialist in animal cancer
models, microscopy/imaging, innovative technologies, and computational solutions. I contribute to an array of
projects across the HCNL, as well as external collaborations, and play a key role in training lab members in
various techniques. I am actively involved in multiple projects funded by the National Cancer Institute. I am
investigating 1) the combination of local cytotoxic gene therapy agents with immune checkpoint blockade, 2) a
novel oncolytic herpes virus for glioblastoma treatment and 3) the role of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in
glioblastoma using animal models. This project may help illuminate the role of CMV in glioblastoma and
provide a rationale for therapeutics that target the underlying biology. Finally, I am technical Manager of a
Translational Neurooncology Core, in which, working with local clinical leaders we are identifying readily
translatable approaches for glioblastoma treatment, and providing data to support clinical trials. Overall, I play
a vital supporting role in a number of important NCI-funded projects with the potential to impact the treatment
of patients with glioblastoma.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10246413
- **Project number:** 5R50CA243706-03
- **Recipient organization:** BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Michal Oskar Nowicki
- **Activity code:** R50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $132,481
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-17 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10246413

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10246413, Innovative approaches for the advancement of glioblastoma therapies (5R50CA243706-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10246413. Licensed CC0.

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