Dissecting the Biology of Disease Progression and Drug Resistance in Glioblastoma

Dissecting the Biology of Disease Progression and Drug Resistance in Glioblastoma

Dissecting the Biology of Disease Progression and Drug Resistance in Glioblastoma


Dr. Lisa Porter

University of Windsor


FUNDER: Supported by the Cancer Research Collaboration Fund and Play for a Cure held at the WindsorEssex Community Foundation

DURATION: 2025-2026

Related Programs:
Nucleus Cores:

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive adult brain cancer, with most patients experiencing recurrence and resistance to standard treatments. A key driver of this resistance is a subset of tumour cells known as glioma stem cells (GSCs), which can adapt and survive therapy. This project uses a unique patient-derived GBM research platform to understand how GSCs regulate their cell cycle, change “stemness states,” and evade treatment. By focusing on a critical cell cycle regulator, CDK2, and its atypical activator Spy1, the team will explore ways to disrupt these resistance mechanisms. The findings will guide the development of new strategies to make GBM more responsive to standard therapies and emerging treatments.

This work will reveal how targeting specific cell cycle pathways can overcome GBM’s notorious drug resistance. Insights from this study could lead to more effective, personalized treatment strategies for patients facing this devastating disease.

Co-Applicants:

Henry Ford Hospital

  • Dr. Ana deCarvalho

Ontario Institute for Cancer Research

  • Dr. Trevor Pugh

Collaborators:

Cincinatti Children's Hospital Medical Center

  • Dr. Keith Stringer


OncoBridge Bio

  • Srinath Kandalam


University of Buffalo

  • Dr. Mohamed Soliman

University of Minnesota

  • Dr. Gunda Georg

University of Windsor

  • Dr. Dorota Lubanska
  • Dr. John Trant


Windsor Regional Hospital

  • Dr. Swati Kulkarni
  • Dr. Abdalla Shamisa


Varonova Tech Inc.

  • Antonio Roye-Azar
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