Scott L. Pomeroy, MD/PhD
Associate Professor of Neurology
Harvard Medical School/Children's Hospital
Department of Neurology (Neuroscience)

MRRC Project(s)

R01 NS35701-03
Molecular Control of the Growth of Medulloblastoma

P01 HD24926
Signal Transduction in Embryo Development
PI, Project 5: Growth Regulating Genes in Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors

Brain tumors in children, including the effects of therapy, are a major cause of developmental disability and even death. Moreover, the interdigitating relationships of neuro-oncology and developmental neurobiology provide another layer of relevance to the mission of this MRRC. Since 1994, this laboratory has focused on several projects in developmental neurobiology and neuro-oncology, with the initial support of a New Program Development Project of this MRRC. The goal is to determine how molecules that regulate the development of the nervous system control the growth of tumors that arise in the developing brain. Ultimately, this approach will be used to develop therapies based on tumor growth regulation. We were the first to demonstrate that the expression of the neurotrophin-3 receptor, TrkC, is associated with a favorable clinical outcome of medulloblastomas. This finding has been verified subsequently by other groups.