Javad Nazarian

Changes to DNA that can give rise to cancers often create fusion proteins, proteins that may be useful as therapeutic targets. Using data from the Pediatric Brain Tumor Atlas, researchers will analyze for the presence of such proteins in an effort to advance treatment options for pediatric brain cancers.

Pediatric tumors have unique properties compared to adult tumors, requiring different treatment strategies for the same tumor type. Using samples provided by the Children’s Brain Tumor Network, researchers will carry out comprehensive comparisons of pediatric meningioma and schwannoma to map these critical areas to develop novel treatments.

Integrative research is needed to advance the treatment options for pediatric cancers. Researchers will analyze data provided through the Pediatric Brain Tumor Atlas in an effort to identify new opportunities in the treatment of pediatric cancers.

Pediatric brain tumors are the leading cause of disease related death in children. Major factors contributing to treatment failures for children with brain tumors include: i) the lack of comprehensive molecular description of the disease and an associated dearth of integration of the tumors’ biologi

Immunotherapy is a treatment strategy for patients that utilizes their own immune system to attack and remove cancer, and more research is needed to utilize such therapies for the treatment of pediatric brain cancers. Researchers will screen data provided by the Pediatric Brain Tumor Atlas in an effort to identify possible immunotherapy targets.

Research into adult cancer has benefited greatly from large scale genomic research. Until now due to the limited resources and availability pediatric brain tumors have not been part of large-scale genomic generation efforts. The CBTN aims to create a comprehensive genomic atlas for use by researchers worldwide to unlock how brain tumors develop, grow, survive, and how they can be treated and cured.

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is an aggressive type of pediatric brain cancer associated with poor outcomes. Researchers will use data from the Pediatric Brain Tumor Atlas in the pursuit of new therapies for patients with DIPG.

Understanding the incidence and classification of T cell receptors of pediatric brain tumors is necessary to develop new therapies. Using data from the Pediatric Brain Tumor Atlas, researchers seek to better understand the tumor cellular immune system.

The identification of germline protein expression in brain cancer cells is pivotal in guiding the development of new treatments.s. Using the Pediatric Brain Tumor Atlas, researchers seek to create an important resource on the details of protein expression across many individual brain cancer types.

Master regulator proteins drive cancer growth and understanding the role they play in patients with DIPG could unlock opportunities for novel treatments. Researchers will analyze DIPG data from the Pediatric Brain Tumor Atlas in order to evaluate new treatment options.

Medulloblastoma relapse is unfortunately common and leaves patients with a poor prognosis. Researchers will use tumor samples and data provided by the Children’s Brain Tumor Network to better understand medulloblastoma relapse, how tumors evolve, and the mechanisms of metastasis in an effort to design effective therapeutic strategies.

Recent studies have reclassified thalamic tumors in the category of midline gliomas and more research is needed to develop accurate diagnostics and effective treatments for this tumor type.

Research is needed to better understand the underlying cause of diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs). Using data provided by the Children’s Brain Tumor Atlas, researchers on this project will investigate mutations affecting histones in DMGs.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is known to result in low grade gliomas (LGG) and sometimes high grade gliomas (HGG). Researchers aim to better understand this connection through the development of preclinical models using specimens provided by the Children’s Brain Tumor Network.