2022 Mid-Career Fellowship: Dr. Hsiao Voon

Paediatric gliomas have high rates of mutations in certain types of proteins and their associated genes (which are responsible for the formation of the proteins). Together, they form what is known as a ‘complex’ and play important roles in development and biological processes. This complex is highly concentrated within compartments in the nucleus of cells known as PML bodies. Removing these damaged PML bodies has been shown to play a curative role in cancer such as leukemia. As such, there is a high likelihood that, like certain leukaemias, targeting and destroying PML bodies will be beneficial in treating certain paediatric brain cancers.

This project will involve using engineered models and patient samples of paediatric gliomas to target and destroy damaged PML bodies and then assess the effectiveness of clinically approved drugs. To do this, Dr. Hsiao and her team will first characterise the genomic and protein changes associated with the damaged PML bodies (which will also help identify potential areas of treatment for paediatric gliomas). Damaged PML bodies will then be removed using multiple methods (e.g., genetic knockout) and it will be determined if doing this boosts the effectiveness of certain clinically approved drugs. Potential areas of treatment identified initially will also be tested in this final stage.

This unique approach by Dr. Hsiao and her team has a clear route to translation and could potentially revolutionise treatment of lethal and incurable paediatric gliomas.