Decoding Oncogenic Environment Synergy in the Initiation of Paediatric Brain Tumours

Paediatric brain tumours, including MYC/MYCN-driven medulloblastoma and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), remain among the most lethal childhood cancers, yet the early events that initiate these malignancies are poorly understood.

This project will investigate how oncogenic MYC/MYCN signalling cooperates with developmental and environmental factors to drive tumour initiation, metabolic reprogramming, and therapeutic resistance. Using human stem cell derived neural and brain tumour models, genome-wide CRISPR functional genomics, and integrated multi-omics profiling, the student will define how lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function, and epigenetic changes create targetable vulnerabilities in these cancers.

Identified dependencies will be therapeutically exploited using rational drug combinations validated in patient-derived xenografts and preclinical models. By linking mechanistic discovery with translational testing, this project aims to uncover actionable pathways and develop improved combination therapies for children with high-risk brain tumours, including DIPG.

Eligibility

Domestic, International, PhD and Masters candidates

How to apply

Express your interest in this project by emailing A/Prof Belamy Cheung bcheung@ccia.unsw.edu.au . Include a copy of your CV and your academic transcript(s).

Further information on how to apply and scholarship deadlines can be found here HDR Application Process