Research Emphasis Area on
Neurodevelopmental Oncology
Coordinator: Richard Morrison, Ph.D.
Brain tumors account for approximately
20% of all childhood cancers, and are the leading cause of cancer
morbidity and mortality among children. While surgery remains the
mainstay of treating most low-grade pediatric brain tumors, high-grade
brain tumors carry poor prognoses and pose considerable therapeutic
and diagnostic challenges. Those challenges include the susceptibility
of the immature brain to radiotherapy-induced cognitive deficits,
which increase for years after radiotherapy, setting age limitations
on the use of radiotherapy in children. Although numerous demographic,
clinical, and therapeutic parameters that have been identified
over the past few years have significant prognostic bearing
for some pediatric brain tumors, predicting the clinical course
and outcome among children with central nervous system tumors is
still difficult. Continued refinement in imaging, surgical technology,
and genomic techniques coupled with better biological understanding
of these tumors will yield improved markers for diagnosis, prognosis,
and more effective therapies in the future.
The overaching goal of the Research Emphasis Area
in Neurodevelopmental Oncology is to enhance our understanding
of the pathogenesis of pediatric brain tumors and to translate
these findings into more effective therapies. The research conducted
by faculty investigators in this REA includes basic investigations
into the molecular, genetic, and epigenetic alterations of these tumors, identification
of biomarkers to enhance prognoses and promote the tailored design
of therapy, the use of nanoparticles to image brain tumors during
surgery, targeted molecular therapy, and clinical analysis of
the functional ramifications associated with pediatric brain tumors.
Scientists in this interdisciplinary research group utilize a combination
of techniques involving cell and molecular biology, stem cell technology,
imaging, clinical investigation, and epidemiology to answer fundamental
questions using animal and human model systems. Collaborative
relationships between research and clinical activities will facilitate
the development of translational studies to design and implement
new approaches for improving the treatment of pediatric brain tumor
patients.
Faculty Investigators
- Richard
S. Morrison, Ph.D, Professor, Neurological Surgery, Coordinator
- Anthony M. Avellino, M.D., Assistant Professor, Neurological Surgery
- David Breiger, Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
- Marc C. Chamberlain, M.D., Professor, Neurology
- Michael Cunningham, M.D., Ph.D, Associate Professor, Pediatrics
- Richard G. Ellenbogen, M.D., Professor, Neurological Surgery
- J. Russell Geyer, M.D., Professor, Pediatrics
- Robert F. Hevner, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Neurological Surgery
- Philip J. Horner, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Neurological Surgery
- Thomas J. Montine, M.D., Ph.D., Professor, Pathology
- Jeffrey Ojemann, M.D., Associate Professor Neurological Surgery
- Robert Rostomily, M.D., Associate Professor, Neurological Surgery
- John R. Silber, Ph.D., Research Professor, Neurological Surgery
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