Critical Mechanisms of Gene Regulation in Medulloblastoma

Award: $300,000 over two years
Principal Investigators: Miguel N. Rivera, MD, Assistant Professor of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital
Funding Partner: Christopher Brandle Joy of Life Foundation

Medulloblastoma is a complex form of pediatric brain cancer, with recent research uncovering an entire series of previously unknown subtypes. This grant awarded by A Kids’ Brain Tumor Cure, now part of the PBTF, will use pioneering technology to reveal innovative treatment approaches critically needed for children with medulloblastoma.

The studies conducted over this project’s two-year period will reveal the connection between and function of gene regulatory elements previously identified by Dr. Rivera’s lab as drivers of Group 3 medulloblastoma. This tumor subtype comprises 30% of all medulloblastoma cases and is associated with the poorest prognosis. Researchers will accomplish this by using new genomic and gene editing technologies to build 3D conformation maps of chromosomes/genomes from Group 3 medulloblastoma cells and directly test the function of key regulators of gene expression and their associated target genes.