The Department of Neurosurgery’s basic science research is conducted under the mentorship of Dr. Meena Jhanwar-Uniyal, Research Associate Professor of Neurosurgery. Under her supervision, residents are provided research training in translational and regenerative medicine, with hands-on training in laboratory research based out of New York Medical College. Areas of research includes: molecular genetic aspects of brain tumors such as Glioblastoma, Medulloblastoma and metastatic brain tumors. In addition, studies of spinal cord injury incorporates the suppression of immune responses using targeted signaling pathways.
The main focus of the laboratory is to understand the genetic/molecular basis of the regulation of the signaling pathway associated with tumor suppressor genes, particularly PTEN and P53 in Glioblastoma (GBM), a tumor that is uniformly fatal. The second major theme of our research is to understand the mechanisms by which PI3K/AKT/ mTOR signaling contributes to uncontrolled growth signaling. Further, we have explored small molecule inhibitors of PI3K and mTOR which show promise as anti-cancer activity in GBM and in the childhood tumor, Medulloblastoma. Seminal findings from our laboratory have suggested that the major cause of ineptitude of mTOR inhibitors in clinic is due to activation of mitogenic pathways via feedback loop. The significance of deregulation of mTOR/S6K signaling in cancer became clear when it was shown to be a major downstream mediator of signaling via the PI3K/AKT axis that is deregulated in a high proportion of human tumors, including GBM. This laboratory research is the first to demonstrate that inhibition of PI3K/mTOR pathways in treatment of Medulloblastoma, which is currently been used in clinic and in phase 2-3 studies. Currently, we are exploring extensive genomic/signaling pathways analysis of Medulloblastoma.
Research from our laboratory also shows the genetic profiling in metastatic brain tumors and critical Epithelial-mesenchymal-transition pathway involving stem cells. Our research aims to take a range of complimentary molecular biology, biochemical and genomic approaches to characterize the role of activation of the pathway in tumorigenesis and to identify key pathways that also contribute to the development of GBM, Medulloblastoma and metastatic brain tumors. It is expected that the results of these studies will provide a basis for a generation of novel therapeutics useful for second-line treatment of these malignancies.
In addition, residents assist in the development of treatment strategies to the discrete signaling pathways relating to aberrant genetic anomaly of specific tumor type. Such training strategies help residents understand the core cause of development and reoccurrence of brain tumors to better treat and manage brain tumors in the era of "precision medicine". Regenerative medicine includes the understanding of spinal cord injury and finding means to treat disease by stem cell transfer and using anti- inflammatory compounds.
Recent Awards:
Basic Science Medical Student Fellowship:
1. Awardee: Alis Dicpinigaitis
Award: AANS/NREF Medical Student Summer Research Fellowship
Title of Project: Expression of Immunomodulatory Markers in Metastatic Brain Tumor: Relation to Inflammatory Signaling
Pathways Governed by STAT3. Under the preceptorship of Dr. Jhanwar Uniyal.