Scott Bratman – 2024 Elevation Grant Recipient
Scott Bratman – University of Toronto, ON
Project: “Advancing High-Grade Glioma Diagnostics: Harnessing Novel Tehniques in cf-DNA Technology”
Generously funded by DUNN with Cancer
Description of Project:
Our proposed research addresses the urgent need to better manage high-grade gliomas (HGG), which are aggressive brain tumors that often lead to poor outcomes. Traditional methods for detecting these tumors don’t capture their genetic changes over time, which are critical for monitoring these tumours and identifying novel treatment approaches. Our approach uses advanced technology to develop a non-invasive method that detects and monitors these genetic shifts through blood samples. This method could potentially overcome challenges posed by the blood-brain barrier, which usually blocks the detection of tumor-related components in the blood. By establishing a reliable diagnostic tool, our project could lead to earlier detection of tumor relapse and a more precise genetic assessment of HGG. This would enable clinicians to make better-informed treatment decisions, potentially improving survival rates and the quality of life for patients. Moreover, our findings could pave the way for identifying novel biomarkers and developing targeted therapies, expanding the scope of personalized medicine.
What receiving this award means:
“I am grateful to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada and DUNN with Cancer for funding our Elevation Research Grant. This award provides vital resources to help our team advance research on novel biomarkers for high-grade gliomas. We are eager to develop non-invasive diagnostic tools that could help physicians provide more personalized care for patients. Thank you for your support!.