Pediatric brain tumor research

Pediatric Brain Tumor Research

Our pediatric brain tumor research spans multiple research specialties, with a particular focus on understanding how the brain develops and finding new treatments for pediatric brain tumors.

Current projects, ranging from basic science to translational research, include the following:

  • Developmental biology of the mammalian brain
  • Developmental cues in the early embryo regulating medulloblastoma migration
  • Developmental biology of the cerebellum and mouse models of medulloblastoma
  • Mouse models of medulloblastoma and neuroblastoma, and small molecule inhibitors for cancer therapeutics
  • Evaluation of novel therapeutics in a rodent model of brainstem glioma
  • Multi-laboratory research program focusing on pediatric medulloblastoma and brainstem glioma
  • Novel immunotherapies for pediatric brain tumors

We are also involved in several national consortia, and have been awarded major grants to support multi-laboratory research efforts:

  • Pacific Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium (PNOC): UCSF is the lead institution for PNOC, a network of 11 children's hospitals that perform clinical trials of therapies that are specific to the molecular profiles of a patient's tumor. By testing therapies that interfere with specific cellular pathways or mutations after confirming that a patient’s tumor has those characteristics, PNOC trials aim to provide patients with therapies optimized for their tumor type.
  • Children's Oncology Group (COG): This is a cooperative group combining the efforts of the major pediatric clinical trials groups based in North America to accelerate the search for a cure and prevention of cancer in children and adolescents.

 

The Labs