Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Manitoba

Supervisor: Chris Anderson, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Manitoba

Project title: “Breaking the connection: disrupting tumour-blood vessel communication in medulloblastoma”

Generously supported by donors of Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.

Description of the project:

Brain cancer research often focuses on studying tumour cells in isolation, but these cells interact with their surrounding environment, influencing their growth and response to treatment. This project aims to understand how Group 3 medulloblastoma (G3 MB), an aggressive childhood brain tumour, communicates with nearby blood vessel cells to promote tumour progression. G3 MB is a highly malignant brain tumour that spreads through the spinal cord and has a poor survival rate. Recent research suggests that tumour cells grow near immature blood vessels, forming a specialized environment that helps them maintain their aggressive, stem-like state. The tumour produces high levels of glutamate, a key brain metabolite, which may activate receptors on blood vessel cells, triggering the release of signals that support tumour growth. However, this process remains poorly understood. This study will investigate how tumour-derived glutamate interacts with blood vessel cells and whether blocking this communication can slow tumour progression. Using advanced cell and animal models, genetic modifications, and drug screening, we will identify new treatment strategies. Findings from this work could lead to the development of novel therapies that target tumour-blood vessel interactions, offering hope for improved outcomes in children with this devastating disease.

Impact of receiving the award:

Being awarded the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada Research Fellowship means the world to me at this pivotal stage of my academic and professional journey. It enables me to investigate a critical and underexplored aspect of pediatric brain tumour biology that could lead to more effective treatments for children.

My research focuses on Group 3 medulloblastoma, an aggressive childhood brain tumour with limited treatment options and poor survival rates. While most studies examine tumour cells in isolation, my project investigates how these cells interact with nearby blood vessels. We believe the tumour releases metabolites that signal to blood vessel cells, activating pathways that support tumour growth and spread. By studying this communication and exploring how to interrupt it, I hope to uncover novel therapeutic strategies to help children facing this aggressive cancer.

I am deeply grateful to Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada and its donors for making this research possible. Beyond providing essential funding, this fellowship supports my continued growth and training as I work toward becoming a leader in brain cancer research. With this support, I hope to advance the development of new treatments that can improve the lives of children and families affected by this devastating disease.

Midpoint Review – June 2026

During the first year of this study, we have developed and optimized laboratory models that allow G3 MB tumour cells and brain blood vessel endothelial cells to grow together. These models enable us to investigate the metabolic and signalling changes that occur between the two cell types and how these interactions support tumour growth. We have used mass spectrometry to perform metabolomics analyses. The term “omics” refers to the comprehensive study of all molecules of a particular type within a living system, while “metabolomics” specifically examines the complete set of metabolites involved in cellular processes. These analyses have provided an in-depth view of how metabolism changes in both tumour cells and blood vessel cells when they grow in close proximity, allowing us to identify new metabolism-based targets for therapeutic intervention.

We are currently characterizing and validating these targets using both genetic and drug-based approaches to determine their importance in tumour growth and aggressiveness. Building on these findings, we are developing preclinical animal studies in which human G3 MB tumour cells will be implanted into mouse brains to evaluate the effectiveness of our most promising therapeutic candidates and to determine their effects on tumour growth and survival.  We believe that the findings from this work will contribute to the development of novel therapies that target tumour–blood vessel interactions, offering hope for improved outcomes for children diagnosed with G3 MB.