Therapeutic targeting of neuron-tumor networks in brain tumors

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Beschreibung der Arbeit

In vivo two-photon microscopy, in vitro live-cell imaging, single-cell RNA-sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, patch-clamp electrophysiology, pure human glioblastoma tissue models, in vivo patient-derived brain tumor models, in vitro co-culture models, deep learning-based image and high-dimensional data analysis.

Our team focuses on researching neural aspects of glioblastoma to develop new treatments for currently incurable brain cancers. We discovered that cancer cells can form functional networks and communicate across multiple cells (Venkataramani et al., Nature 2019, Venkataramani et al., Cell 2022, Schubert et al., Nature Communications, Tetzlaff et al., biorxiv 2024). Our studies have revealed that brain tumor cells possess direct glutamatergic and cholinergic synaptic connections. These connections drive cancer cell spread and invasion in all the model systems and patient-derived human samples we examined so far. Understanding these complex processes has opened up new possibilities for fighting cancer more broadly, primarily by disrupting the cancer cells ability to electrically integrate into the brains neural network. In this work, we want to further investigate both pharmacological and viral strategies to tackle these intractable cancers.

Rahmenbedingungen

The applicant participates in weekly group seminars and journal clubs. A dedicated structured training is guaranteed. SFB 1389 (https://www.unite-glioblastoma.de/research/focus-a/a07-mapping-and-targeting-neuron-tumor-networks-to-tackle-therapy-resistance-in-glioblastoma/) as well as the Cancer Neuroscience network (https://cancerneuroscience.de/members-of-cancer-neuroscience/) in Heidelberg supports scientific exchange of young scientists in retreats, congresses, summer schools.

High motivation and dedication. All techniques are established with structured training programs to learn them.

HiWi job (510 €).

A first or at least a co-authorship is envisioned.

The dissertation can be both performed in Heidelberg as well as the Texas Medical Center in Houston. Further information about the group can be found on our website: https://venkataramani-lab.com/research/ or on Twitter @VarunVenkatara2