Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) awarded a $421,361 Project Grant to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center for research aimed at developing improved therapeutic approaches for medulloblastoma (MB) and leptomeningeal disease (LMD) in pediatric patients. Under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders (CFDA 93.853), this five-year award (May 1, 2026 – April 30, 2031) will support translational research targeting Ring Finger Protein 2 (RNF2) in combination with engineered oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus (oHSV) G207 to enhance anti-cancer immune responses and overcome tumor immune evasion. The research builds on prior Phase 1 clinical trial results demonstrating the safety and efficacy of G207 in pediatric high-grade gliomas and ongoing trials in malignant cerebellar tumors.

The deliverables include preclinical research investigations examining how RNF2 suppression can augment and sustain the cytotoxic T-cell immune response initiated by oHSV therapy, with the ultimate objective of achieving durable tumor regression and improved survival outcomes while reducing treatment-related toxicity in pediatric patients with MB and LMD. This research addresses a critical unmet clinical need in pediatric neuro-oncology, where current therapies have shown limited progress in survival improvement over decades and result in significant long-term sequelae for survivors.