Cancer focus, program rationale and scientific objectives:

The program is focused on brain tumors, with particular emphasis on malignant gliomas, as these are the most lethal in the CNS. The program has a strong focus on the identification of genetic alterations in glioma, in understanding of how they drive malignant glioma biology, in using this knowledge to develop imaging techniques and new viral and small molecule therapies. Program activities can be broadly divided in several objectives:

Objective One: Genetic alterations and molecular markers of brain tumors
The goal is to identify genetic alterations and molecular markers that define brain tumor types, potentially permit their early detection, and are predictive of prognosis.

Objective Two: Glioma biology
The goal is to define which critical biological pathways are affected in gliomas, define how genetic alteration trigger these changes and how these changes contribute to malignant brain tumor cell behavior.

Objective Three: Targeting angiogenesis and the HIF survival pathway in gliomas
The goals are to study key regulators of glioma angiogenesis, understand the role of the HIF pathway in glioma cell survival under hypoxic conditions and devise therapeutic approaches on this basis.

Objective Four: Imaging of brain tumors
The goal is to develop more efficient imaging techniques for the early detection, treatment monitoring and recurrence of gliomas and other brain tumors.

Objective Five: Clinical Trials
The program clinical member participate in the conduct of WCI, NABTT or industry-sponsored trials for brain tumors. These are opportunities for "clinic to bench" studies that help define the pharmacodynamics of the treatment agents through the analysis of biomarkers.