Research Interests
Paediatric high grade glioma
The Jones laboratory is primarily focussed on high grade gliomas which arise in children, either supratentorially, or within the brainstem. These tumours appear to have key biological and clinical distinctions, both to each other, and histologically similar lesions in adults.
Our research is comprised of three main areas:
Molecular pathology
Understanding the genomic alterations which underlie the pathogenesis of the tumours is the first step to identifying novel strategies for diagnostics and treatment. We are trying to fully catalogue the molecular fingerprints of these diseases in children.
Experimental therapeutics
Current treatment strategies offer little hope in high grade gliomas, irrespective of site of presentation or age of diagnosis. Our laboratory is carrying out preclinical evaluation of novel compounds targeting genes and signalling pathways identified to be important in the disease.
Novel disease models
To facilitate the translation of basic biological findings into clinical practice, tumour models which accurately recapitulate the specific nature of these cancers in children are required. Using a variety of in vitro and in vivo approaches, a series of such models is currently being developed.
Projects
Current project information concerning the analyses of genomics and expression patterns of paediatric high grade glioma; details regarding the Wilms tumour genomics and preclinical models are also available.
Genomic profiling of paediatric high grade glioma
To make the greatest progress in these rare tumours, it would be beneficial to pool as much data as possible, in order to better define the molecular alterations driving this disease.
Wilms tumour genomics and preclinical models
Understanding the genomics of the childhood renal cancer Wilms tumour, and translating this knowledge into clinical benefit through novel models systems and drug development.
