Genomics and Statistics Support for Childhood Brain Tumor Research
Core B: Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core
Using DNA, RNA and epigenetic data, this team aims to identify molecular changes linked to glioma and medulloblastoma in children to guide better diagnosis and treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11178028 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This core provides the computing power, bioinformatics tools, and statistical expertise to analyze tumor DNA, RNA, methylation, and ATAC‑seq data from the program's projects. It integrates and compares those results with large public cancer datasets like TCGA and the Pediatric Cancer Genome Project to highlight shared and unique features of pediatric glioma and medulloblastoma. The team runs custom analysis pipelines on a high-performance cluster to search for genes, pathways, and biomarkers tied to tumor initiation and progression. Findings support the other research projects and can point to new diagnostic markers or therapeutic targets.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be children or adolescents diagnosed with glioma or medulloblastoma who can provide tumor tissue and clinical data through St. Jude or an affiliated center.
Not a fit: People without brain tumors or whose care is unrelated to glioma or medulloblastoma are unlikely to get direct benefit from this core's work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal biomarkers and molecular targets that lead to earlier diagnosis or more effective, tailored treatments for children with glioma or medulloblastoma.
How similar studies have performed: Similar large-scale genomic and epigenomic analyses (for example TCGA and PCGP) have already identified important cancer biomarkers, and this project applies those proven approaches to pediatric brain tumors.
Where this research is happening
Memphis, United States
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital — Memphis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Jinghui — St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Jinghui
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.