Single-Cell Multimodal Analysis of 3D Genome and Epigenetic Dysregulation in Pediatric High-Grade Gliomas
Pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGGs) are aggressive brain tumors in children. These tumors are difficult to treat because they are very diverse due to many different genetic variants that can cause them. Scientists have recently made progress in understanding these genetic variants, which has led to more accurate ways to classify pHGGs. In addition to genetic variants, how gene expressions are controlled by chemical modifications on DNA (called epigenetics) within a cell, is also thought to play a role in pHGG development. However, we still don't fully characterize the details of these epigenetic changes and understand how they influence gene activity in pHGGs, especially when looking at individual cells within the tumor. This research project aims to fill this gap in knowledge by using powerful single-cell sequencing technologies to analyze pHGGs in great detail. We hope to create a comprehensive map of the genetic and epigenetic landscape of pHGGs. By understanding these gene regulatory programs in more detail, we hope to identify new biomarkers and therapeutic targets that could improve the lives of children with pHGGs.
Project Goals
Pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGGs) are aggressive brain tumors and the leading cause of cancer death in children. Despite recent genetic discoveries, we lack a deep understanding of how these tumors develop at the single-cell level. This hinders the creation of effective treatments. This project will be the first to create a comprehensive single-cell multimodal map of pHGGs. We also aim to develop new computational tools to analyze this data. These tools will be shared with other researchers to accelerate discoveries in pediatric brain tumors and other cancers. This project has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of pHGGs, leading to the development of new and more effective treatments for children with these devastating tumors.
