Establishment, characterization, and directed differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells for the improved treatment and understanding of pediatric brain tumors

Brain tumors occur in one out of each four children diagnosed with cancer. Sadly, these kids are less likely to survive their disease than those diagnosed with blood cancers. The kids that do survive brain cancer often suffer from side effects of treatment, which can hamper their ability to succeed later in life. Thus, the greatest challenges facing a child with a brain tumor are: (1) the detection and successful treatment of their disease; and (2) the protection of their future quality of life. Our research goal is to eventually improve the lives of children diagnosed and treated for brain cancer by developing cellular technologies that enable the prediction and amelioration of toxicities to normal cells that may occur in children as a result of the aggressive treatments for brain tumors. These cellular technologies will also enable us to learn more about the biology that underlies the normal growth and development of neural stem cells, so we can better recognize and treat disorders, like cancer, that result when normal development is disrupted.

Faculty Supervisor:

Dr. Christopher Maxwell

Student:

Marisa Connell

Partner:

BC Children's Hospital

Discipline:

Medicine

Sector:

Life sciences

University:

University of British Columbia