Less Heat, More Light: Discovering Smarter Therapies for Pediatric Brain Tumors

Host

Adriana Sánchez Danés, Principal Investigator, Champalimaud Research

Venue

Seminar room

Abstract

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children. Despite aggressive multimodal therapy, many patients still die from the disease, and survivors suffer severe long-term side effects from therapy. More effective and less toxic therapies are urgently needed to improve outcomes and quality of life for medulloblastoma patients. This seminar will discuss the use of genetically engineered mice and patient-derived xenograft models to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis and to discover novel therapeutic targets. Using high-throughput drug screening, investigation of tumor-immune interactions and development of novel small molecule inhibitors we identify promising new strategies for therapy of medulloblastoma and other pediatric brain tumors.

Biography

Dr. Wechsler-Reya received his A.B. from Harvard and his Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Pennsylvania, and did postdoctoral training in Cancer Biology and Developmental Neurobiology from the Wistar Institute and Stanford. In 2022, he was recruited to Columbia University, where he serves at H. Houston Merritt Professor of Neurological Sciences and Scientific Director of Brain Tumor Research in the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center. His research focuses on the signals that control growth and differentiation in the nervous system, and how these signals are dysregulated in pediatric brain tumors. 

Register here.
 

About CR Colloquia Series

Champalimaud Research (CR) Colloquia Series is a seminar programme organised by the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown to promote the discussion about the most interesting and significant questions in neuroscience and physiology & cancer with appointed speakers by the CR Community.