Home Department: Human Biology
Mentor: Claudia Petritsch (Neurosurgery)

“Modeling Tumor Development and Progression for Clinically Threatening Pediatric Glioma”

Pediatric low-grade glioma is the most common childhood brain tumor and can progress into high-grade glioma marked by intra-tomoral heterogeneity, immunosuppression, and fast growth, which is lethal despite extensive treatment. The biological processes associated with the tumor microenvironment (TME) that support tumor progression are poorly understood, posing a roadblock in effective drug development. Using novel mouse models, Brandon will perform single-cell transcriptomic profiling and multiplex immunohistochemistry at different stages of progression to reveal the spatiotemporal interaction networks among glial, immune, and tumor cells in the TME. This project will guide development of targeted therapies aimed at preventing tumor progression.