Research Interests
Our lab studies how epigenetic and metabolic dysregulation influence the development and biology of pediatric brain tumors. My work focuses on a novel epigenetic modifier, EZHIP, which is overexpressed in a subtype of childhood brain cancer known as PF-A ependymomas. EZHIP inhibits polycomb-mediated trimethylation at histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3), a transcriptionally repressive chromatin modifying mark. EZHIP overexpression gives rise to a global reduction in H3K27me3 marks throughout the genome that is poorly prognostic. My project aims to understand the mechanisms regulating EZHIP activity, and the unique chromatin landscape it helps generate, in an effort to identify novel therapeutic avenues for treatment of PF-A ependymomas.
Faculty Advisor
Sriram Venneti, MD, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Cancer Biology-Department of Pathology
Research Interests
The aims of our research are to understand the core mechanisms that drive brain cancers such as diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas( DIPG) and ependymomas in children, as well as gliomas in adults.