The AACR-StacheStrong Glioblastoma Research Fellowship represents a joint effort to encourage and support a postdoctoral or clinical research fellow to conduct brain cancer research and to establish a successful career path in this field. The project may be basic, clinical, translational, or epidemiological in nature and must have direct applicability and relevance to brain cancer.

2023 grantee

Research

Emerging studies reveal a frequent mesenchymal transition in recurrent Glioblastoma (GBM) patients, linked with high tumor-associated macrophage infiltration, increased therapeutic resistance, and poorer outcomes. By utilizing genetic and pharmacological approaches, Dr. Raghavendra will investigate the role of the BET (bromodomain and extra terminal domain) family of enhancer proteins and their associated bromo domains in mesenchymal transition to identify strategies to restore sensitivity to salvage radiation therapy in in vitro and in vivo models of recurrent GBM. 

Biography

Dr. Vadla earned his doctorate at the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, India. During his doctoral studies, he focused on epigenetic mechanisms of glioma metabolism. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, San Diego, where he concentrates on unraveling the mechanisms of mesenchymal transition in GBM. His work aims to establish a foundation for targeted strategies to combat therapy resistance in GBM patients.

Acknowledgment of Support

“I am deeply honored to be the recipient of the 2023 AACR-StacheStrong Glioblastoma Research Fellowship. This fellowship will allow me to complete my postdoctoral fellowship, which has the potential to identify druggable pathways to improve survival for recurrent GBM patients.”