Brain Tumor Program
Collaborate for Cash: Trainee Brainstorm Pilot Grant
Apply Today!
The BTP is soliciting applications for Trainee Brainstorm Pilot Grants. The objective of this funding mechanism is to foster interdisciplinary collaborations between BTP labs, catalyzed by a collaboration between two or more Ph.D., D.V.M, M.D., M.D./Ph.D. or D.V.M./Ph.D. trainees (graduate students or postdoctoral fellows) in two separate labs. This proposal should be generated by trainees, with approval of the involved lab principal investigators, with at least one trainee in each of the involved labs who is committed to seeing the project take place. The projects should encompass novel, hypothesis-driven studies of nervous system cancer or a cancer-related topic/theme. Proposed research must have the clear goal of using the award as a springboard to initiate a new collaboration and eventually a new grant from federal sources. Letter of Intent (Required) due April 21, 2023 11:59pm.
Email us at braintumor@umn.edu for an application.
UMN Brain Tumor Program Featured on 60 Minutes
Dr. Liz Pluhar, Dr. Matt Hunt, and Dr. Elizabeth Neil were featured in a 60 Minute Episode titled, "Survival of the Friendliest, Comparative Oncology" which aired on November 27, 2022. The episode can be found here.
Thank you to all who attended the Dr. John Ohlfest Memorial Session
Announcing the Dr. John Ohlfest, Ph.D., Memorial Session at SNO 2022
Dr. John R. Ohlfest, PhD was a fantastic young scientist who made important contributions to brain tumor research as a faculty member at University of Minnesota, including early studies on glioma immunotherapy and new methods for making syngeneic models in mice. He passed away at the age of 35 on January 21, 2013, after a long battle versus malignant melanoma. His contributions include the creation of novel mouse syngeneic glioblastoma models using Sleeping Beauty transposon technology, pioneering work on immunotherapy trials using canine brain tumors, and the development of GMP-grade GBM stem cells that are being used in glioma vaccine clinical trials. We have organized a one and a half hour satellite symposium in his honor at the 2022 Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting. All are welcome to attend.
Time/Date/Location:
7:15 – 8:45AM, Saturday, November 19,2022 at the Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting. Tampa Convention Center, Rms. 120-121
Organizers/Speakers:
Hideho Okada (UC-San Francisco), David Largaespada (U. Minnesota), Maria Castro (U. Michigan), Brian Andersen (Dana Farber Cancer Institute), Christopher Moertel (U. Minnesota), Michael Olin (U. Minnesota), Liz Pluhar (U. Minnesota), and David Odde (U. Minnesota)
Agenda
Hideho Okada -- Welcome
Maria Castro - Sleeping Beauty-transposons mediated brain tumor models: from epigenetic remodelling to novel therapies in human patients
David Largaespada – Transposons two ways: Creating brain tumors with Sleeping Beauty and the legacy of John Ohlfest, Ph.D.
Christopher Moertel – Mice, Dogs, Fish and Rock ‘n Roll - John Ohlfest from lab to clinic.
Mike Olin – TBD
Brian Andersen – Oxygen-Mediated Control of Glioma-Derived Annexin A2: A Thesis Journey Guided by John Ohlfest
Liz Pluhar– "Bridging the translation gap: Providing therapeutic advances for canine and human brain cancer patients"
David Odde - TBD
Hideho Okada – SB28 cell line as a clinically relevant syngeneic mouse model – immune landscape and preclinical therapeutic studies
Thank you for attending our 6th semi-annual Neuro-Oncology Symposium!
We want to give our sincerest thanks to all those who attended this years' Neuro-Oncology Symposium!
A special thanks to our sponsors, GT Medical, Caris, Boston Scientific, Love your Melon and M Health Fairview.
6th Neuro-Oncology Symposium on May 23-24th, 2022 at McNamara Alumni Center in Minneapolis, MN
This two-day event will feature presentations about fundamental brain tumor research, translational research, and clinical research from leading brain cancer experts. This symposium will be of interest to researchers and students as well as physicians and other health care providers.
In addition, we are offering our Patient and Caregiver Program again! This program will take place on Monday, May 23 at McNamara Alumni Center in Minneapolis, MN. This will be a hybrid optional event.
Click here to register for our Patient and Caregiver Program!
Contact for Questions: braintumor@umn.edu
For more information visit us at: z.umn.edu/BTPSymposium
Thank you for attending our Neurofibromatosis Conference on September 27, 2021!
We want to give our sincerest thanks to all those who attended this years' Neurofibromatosis Conference! Although we had hoped that we would be able to meet in person, we are so happy that you were able to join us via Zoom.
A special thanks to our sponsors, Children's Minnesota, the Mayo Clinic, and Children's Tumor Foundation. Thank you to our wonderful speakers and moderator, Chris Moertel, Michael Halloran, Adrienne Watson, Dusica Babovic-Vuksanovic, Elizabeth and Alanna Halloran, Kyle Williams, Christina Boull, David Largaespada, Pavlina Sverak and Erin Marcotte.
You can find a recording of the entire conference here.
A Leading Translational Neuro-Oncology Program
The mission of the University Brain Tumor Program (UMBTP) is to continually distinguish itself as a national leader in the field of neuro-oncology by combining the principles of outstanding clinical care and education with cutting edge research.
Brain Tumor Program Travel Grant (FY22)
We are happy to announce that the Brain Tumor Program Travel Grants will be available for FY22. These are for students, post-docs, and clinical fellows who will be traveling to a brain tumor related conference. Up to four travel awards up to $1000 each will be awarded this cycle. Only individuals who have submitted an abstract will be eligible to apply.
A Multidisciplinary Team
The UMBTP consists of many dedicated researchers and clinicians of numerous disciplines and specialties. These disciplines and specialties include - but are not limited to - cancer genetics, neuro-oncology, neurosurgery, pharmacy, biomedical engineering, and veterinary medicine.
Co-Leaders:
David Largaespada, PhD
Elizabeth Neil, MD