The role of mTOR in Ras mediated gliomagenesis

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal describes a five year program for the development of an academic career as a physician-scientist in Radiation Oncology. The principal investigator completed residency training in Radiation Oncology at the University of California, San Francisco, is serving as a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at UCSF, and will be promoted to Assistant Professor in July of 2005. The PI practices neuro-radiation oncology treating adults with malignant gliomas while pursuing laboratory studies in gliomagenesis under the mentorship of Dr. Russell O. Pieper. An experimental program examining the role of mTOR in Ras mediated gliomagenesis is combined with didactic studies and focused interactions with the UCSF Brain Tumor Research Center. The research plan tests the hypothesis that Ras mediated gliomagenesis occurs through the Ral signaling arm, resulting in activation of mTOR and its downstream effector elF4E. The translational targets upregulated by elF4E activity may represent important therapeutic targets in the treatment of malignant gliomas, and will be assessed. The outlined research plan and career development activities will occur at the UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center, a designated National Cancer Institute research center, and the UCSF Brain Tumor Research Center (BTRC), an NCI named Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE). Mentor Russell O. Pieper, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery, and co-mentor Mitchel Berger, M.D., Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery and PI of UCSF's Brain SPORE program, will be joined by David A. Larson, Ph.D., M.D., Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology, in forming an advisory committee guiding the PI's achievement throughout the award period. The UCSF Department of Radiation Oncology strongly supports the career development activities outlined and has committed clinical and laboratory resources to support the PI's transition to independence.