Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Co-Directors

Nalin Gupta MD, PhD

C. David James PhD

Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Laboratories

Arturo Alvarez-Buylla PhD
Developmental neuroscience; stem-cell neurobiology

Nalin Gupta MD, PhD
Pediatric brain tumors; cell-cell interactions; drug delivery strategies

Daphne Haas-Kogan
Pediatric radiation oncology

Rintaro Hashizume MD, PhD

C. David James PhD
Molecular biology of CNS cancer; Analysis of mutant epidermal growth factor receptors in malignant gliomas; Rodent model testing of experimental therapies

Sabine Mueller MD, PhD

Theodore Nicolaides MD

Claudia Petritsch PhD
Asymmetrical cell division, stem cell neurobiology

Joanna Phillips MD, PhD

David Rowitch MD, PhD
Central nervous system development and tumorigenesis

William Weiss MD, PhD
Mouse models of human brain tumors

Pediatric Brain Tumor Clinical Trials

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Pediatric Brain Tumor Research

Basic Science Research

The basic science pediatric neurosurgery research program is aimed at increasing our understanding of how the brain develops and finding new treatments for pediatric brain tumors. Current research projects include:

• Developmental biology of the mammalian brain

• Evaluation of novel therapeutics in a rodent model of brainstem glioma

• Developmental cues in the early embryo regulating medulloblastoma migration

• Developmental biology of the cerebellum and mouse models of medulloblastoma

• Mouse models of medulloblastoma and neuroblastoma, and small molecule inhibitors for cancer therapeutics

Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation Institute at UCSF: The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation of the United States has granted the BTRC an Institute Award to study central nervous system tumors in children. The grant funds five research projects that focus on pediatric brainstem glioma and medulloblastoma.

Clinical Research

Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium
UCSF is one of nine institutions that participate in the development and conduct of innovative phase I and II clinical trials for pediatric brain tumors. Two currently active clinical trials through the PBTC are led by UCSF investigators: PBTC-011 (Principal Investigator: Anuradha Banerjee MD, MPH) uses direct convection delivery of a tumor-directed agent into the brain, and PBTC-014 (Principal Investigator: Daphne Haas-Kogan MD) which uses R115777 (Zarnestra) in combination with radiation therapy.