Research And Grants

Uncovering and Exploiting Tumor Vulnerabilities in Medulloblastoma via Integrated Genomic and Preclinical Platforms.

Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children. Many children do not respond well to standard treatments, and often suffer severe long-term side effects. In adult cancers, we found that some tumors have specific weaknesses, that can make them more sensitive to certain drugs. Unfortunately, these genetic vulnerabilities are typically not detected by the tests currently used in pediatric care. In extensive preliminary work, we systematically mapped the genetic landscape of brain tumors in children. Integrating, using artificial intelligence (AI), massive functional, genomic, pharmacogenomic, and clinical data from 100,000 adult cancers, we uncovered new potential markers that predict high sensitivity of pediatric tumors to specific drugs. In this project, we will use advanced genetic testing and drug screening on patient tumor models to validate our findings in order to match each child's tumor profile to existing drugs.