Maria Castro, Ph.D.

R C Schneider Collegiate Professor of Neurosurgery and Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology

Biography

Maria G. Castro, PhD, is the R.C. Schneider Professor of Neurosurgery, and Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, at the University of Michigan Medical School. My research program focuses on epigenetic regulation of cancer progression, uncovering the role of oncometabolites in the brain tumor microenvironment (TME), and the development of new therapies for adult and pediatric gliomas, including DIPG. We are investigating the role of the tumor immune-microenvironment in tumor progression and response to therapeutics, crosstalk between cancer cells and hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, and mechanisms affecting the migration of immune cells from peripheral lymphoid organs to the tumor microenvironment. The study of these basic immunological mechanisms will lead to clinical implementation. The goal of my program is to develop novel treatments for brain tumors based on immunotherapeutics, a new and exciting approach that targets inhibition of tumor growth and recurrence.

Research Interests

Sleeping Beauty transposase-mediated mouse brain cancer models; role of DNA repair and genomic stability in tumor progression; epigenetic studies; bioinformatics.

Research Opportunities for Rotating Students

Immune-suppressive Myeloid Cells in the Glioma Microenvironment: Signaling Mechanisms and Novel Therapeutic Strategies
Interactions between the tumor cells and the neuro-immune microenvironment in mutant IDH1 gliomas
Immune-mediated therapies in a genetically engineered murine model of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma

Diversity Ambassador

  • Hispanic or Latino

Other Info

Office Location 

  • MSRB 2 Room 4570

Lab Location 

  • MSRB 2 Room 4556

 Administrative Assistant