Funded Grants

SEED GRANT

Grantee: University of California, San Francisco
Project Lead: John Liu, MD, PHD
Grant Title: Defining neural dependent vulnerabilities in GBM radiation sensitization using functional genomics
Program Area: Glioblastoma
Grant Type: UKF Seed Grant
Year Awarded: 2024
Amount: $50,000
Duration: 1 year

Summary: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant brain tumor and is highly fatal. Radiotherapy (RT) is the backbone for treating GBM, but these tumors almost always recur even where the radiation dose is highest. It has been appreciated that interactions between neurons and GBM cells promote the growth of GBM tumors. We have recently developed genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 functional genomics tools to discover new genetic targets and radiation sensitizers in models of brain tumors. However, it is not known how neuron-tumor interactions affects RT resistance in GBM, and genome-wide efforts to discover neuraldependent RT sensitizers have not been performed. The objective of this proposal is to understand how neuron-tumor interactions affect RT resistance genome-wide in both tumor cells and neurons, in order to identify gene targets that could maximize the benefits while minimizing the side effects of RT for patients living with GBM.