Nicole Brossier

Pediatric low-grade gliomas (PLGGs) comprise approximately 25-30% of all childhood malignancies and often occur in the posterior fossa or midline structures.The primary treatment for these tumors is surgical resection, with chemotherapy reserved for recurrent cases or those cases in which a complete resection cannot be achieved. For those tumors in which surgical resection is unfeasible, as is often the case with midline PLGGs, significant morbidity and even mortality can occur. I am interested in the neurodevelopmental origins of these tumors, including both the cell of origin and cell-intrinsic and extrinsic signaling that is necessary for tumor formation and maintenance. Ultimately, this information may help in the design of newer, more effective therapeutic agents that result in less morbidity than traditional chemotherapy.