UCSD - University of California - San Diego

06/04/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/04/2026 08:13

V Foundation Awards Grant to UC San Diego for Research on Deadly Brain Cancer

Published Date

June 04, 2026

Article Content

Researchers at the University of California San Diego have received a $1 million grant from the V Foundation for Cancer Research to advance promising new approaches for treating glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive and lethal forms of brain cancer.

Despite intensive treatment that can include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, glioblastoma tumors often recur after initial therapy, making the condition particularly difficult to treat. A small population of cancer cells tend to withstand treatment and later drive tumor regrowth.

Frank B. Furnari, PhD, professor of medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine and co-director of the brain tumor and neurorestoration program at the Sanford Stem Cell Institute, will lead a project aimed at better understanding and ultimately eliminating the therapy-resistant cells, often referred to as "persister" cells.

Frank Furnari, PhD

With support from the V Foundation, the research focuses on a protein known as BRD2, which plays a key role in helping cancer cells adapt and survive under treatment pressure. Preliminary findings suggest that while blocking BRD2 can slow tumor regrowth, combining it with other targeted therapies may be more effective in preventing the cancer from returning. Researchers will also look at advanced drug delivery strategies to improve how therapies reach tumors in the brain.

"Our goal is to uncover how these cells survive treatment and to identify new strategies to target them," said Furnari. "If we can eliminate the cells that seed recurrence, we have the potential to address the fundamental challenge of therapeutic resistance and positively change outcomes for patients."

The project's co-investigators are Matt Hangauer, PhD, Praveen Raju, MD, PhD, and Raghav Vadla, PhD. This multidisciplinary team brings together expertise in brain tumor biology, cancer cell survival mechanisms and nanomedicine delivery systems, with the goal of accelerating new treatment strategies toward clinical application.

About the V Foundation

The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State University basketball coach, ESPN commentator and member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The V Foundation has funded over $458 million in game-changing cancer research grants in North America through a competitive process strictly supervised by a world-class Scientific Advisory Committee. Because the V Foundation has an endowment to cover administrative expenses, 100% of direct donations is awarded to cancer research and programs. The V team is committed to funding the best scientists to accelerate Victory Over Cancer® and save lives.

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