Project Grant R21NS146966

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, awarded The Ohio State University $424,333 on September 1, 2026, under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders program (CFDA 93.853) to develop a bioengineered blood-brain barrier-on-a-chip microphysiological system for improved drug screening in primary brain tumors.

The project addresses the challenge of modeling glioblastoma cellular variability and blood-brain barrier function in preclinical drug development. Current animal models and traditional cell cultures do not accurately represent human physiology; recent three-dimensional models such as organoids fail to integrate the multiple cellular and physical components of the glioblastoma microenvironment and blood-brain barrier. The award funds development of an in vitro platform that combines glioblastoma tumor cells, brain tissue components, and blood-brain barrier architecture to create a more physiologically representative model for therapeutic screening and selection. This approach aims to reduce the failure rate of therapies that advance from preclinical studies to clinical trials by better predicting drug efficacy and blood-brain barrier penetration.

The recipient is The Ohio State University, performing work in Columbus, Ohio. The award period runs from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2028. This is a Project Grant assistance type award.