WSU Boonshoft School of Medicine researchers receive award for brain tumor study

The Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine was awarded a $48,000 award to a team of researchers studying the role of genes in treating pediatric brain tumors.

The team is led by Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Robert Lober M.D., Ph.D. His team includes Associate chair of Research Thomas Brown; Professor of Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Physiology Christopher Walker; and WSU graduate student and research assistants Chanel Keoni and Brianna Schurko of Dayton Children’s.

The researchers are studying an aggressive tumor known as diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. It is often times difficult to treat resulting in terminal form of childhood cancer.

“I treat children with brain tumors. This research directly addresses a particular incurable brain cancer in children. We are trying to understand how these tumors resist all current treatments through changes in gene expression,” Lober said in a press release.

Lober’s research team will be awarded a one-year grant to identify critical molecular mediators of the tumor treatment resistance and give an understanding of how genetics can affect the tumor growth and treatment.

Lober is able to study brain tumors in children through high level imaging through a partnership in WSU and Premier Health Neuroscience Institute and Dayton Children’s.