Yes, I do have a red sleigh and my best friend is a reindeer. Neuroblastoma EVs effects upon the Blood-Brain-Barrier.
BIO
LORD TALMANKO VON HEILBROON PH.D. STUDENT
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In my research, we aim to learn the role of EVs from neuroblastoma cells on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) endothelial cells. Neuroblastoma is a pediatric neuron cancer with an impact on children’s cognitive and motoric abilities, with metastasis and relapse occurring in the brain. The role of EVs in neuroblastoma is relatively unknown; with our work, we aim to learn the impact the EVs are inducing on the BBB. We have shown that neuroblastoma EVs from both late and early onset have the ability and cargo to destabilize the tight junctions on the BBB. We are currently working on understanding the mechanism of action of those neuroblastoma EVs.
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Alpha-somes: extracellular vesicles from alpha irradiated cells as weaponization of the bystander effect
In this research, we are aiming to use the bystander effect of radiation therapy as a pre-treatment for radiation. The bystander effect is when non-irradiated cells act as if they were exposed to radiation; it was shown that EVs play a role in that interaction. Using our custom-made Kapton wells, we can irradiate neuroblastoma and glioblastoma cells with alpha radiation, collecting the media for EV isolation from irradiated sources. Using those EVs, we aim to learn their effects on non-irradiated cells and study their ability to pre-condition them for radiation, creating a platform for reduced radiation therapy with pre-treatment of EVs from irradiated sources.
