Distinguished Scientist Award Recipients
Santosh Kesari, M.D., Ph.D.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
2006 Distinguished Scientist Award
Education:
University of Pennsylvania, B.A., 1992, Math, Biology
University of Pennsylvania, Ph.D., 1996, Molecular Biology
University of Pennsylvania, M.D., 1999, Medicine
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 1999-2000, Intern, Internal Medicine
Brigham & Women's Hospital, 2000-2003, Resident, Neurology
Massachusetts General Hospital, 2003-2004, Postdoctoral Fellow, Neuro-Oncology
-- Dr. Santosh Kesari
About Dr. Kesari's Research:
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most lethal brain cancer that is notoriously resistant to standard treatments. A small population of CD133 (a stem cell marker) positive GBM stem cells has been shown to embody the tumorigenic potential. The lack of durable responses suggests that current treatments may not adequately target these stem cells. The goal of this proposal is to elucidate the role of OLIG2 (a developmentally regulated transcription factor) in human GBM stem cells with the aim of discovering a new target(s) for the treatment of this devastating cancer. Our preliminary studies show that 1) OLIG2 is required for GBM formation in a mouse glioma model, 2) OLIG2 is expressed in human GBM stem cells, and 3) OLIG2 regulates the P53-inducible cell cycle inhibitor gene P21. The overall objective is to test the hypothesis that OLIG2 opposes P53 function(s) in GBM stem cells. Aim 1 is to test the prediction that suppression of OLIG2-deficient GBM stem cells wll stimulate the expression of P21 in primary GBM stem cells and suppress the growth of tumors. Aim 2 is to test the prediction that loss of P21 will rescue the growth of OLIG2-deficient GBM stem cells. Aim 3 is to test the prediction that other identified P53-inducible genes are also suppressed by OLIG2. This proposal will identify and validate genes along a novel "OLIG2: P53 signaling axis" that may account for the resistance of GBMs to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This will pave the way for the development of more effective therapies for GBM.
Accolades:
"I feel that Santosh is an outstanding and promising young investigator in the field of Neuro-Oncology and already shows evidence that he will become a leading player in the years to come. He is the closest thing to a certain bet for academic success that one can imagine."
--Martin A. Samuels, M.D.
Chairman, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School
"Dr. Kesari is one of the rising stars in neuro-oncology with the rare potential to make important advances in the laboratory and translating these advances into the clinic."
-- Patrick Wen, M.D.
Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Hospital
