55KRC: Grants aid UC research of pediatric brain tumors

Diffuse midline gliomas, formerly referred to as Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gliomas (DIPG), are deadly brain tumors. Each year, approximately 200-300 children in the United States are diagnosed with this tumor that is commonly located in the brain stem.  

Timothy Phoenix, PhD, assistant professor in the University of Cincinnati's James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences and a UC Cancer Center member, has recently received three separate grants studying how certain genetic factors affect the tumor's growth.

"We’ve learned a lot about what’s going wrong with these tumors in terms of genetic mutations," Phoenix told 55KRC's Simply Medicine program. "As we figure out what’s altered in these tumors, we can figure out drugs that might target these specific mutations."

Listen to the Simply Medicine segment. (Note: Segment begins around 12:30 mark.)

Read more about Phoenix's research.

Featured photo at top of Dr. Phoenix: Photo/Colleen Kelley/UC Creative + Brand