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METHOD:PUBLISH
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260506T085916Z
DTSTART:20260518T140000Z
DTEND:20260518T150000Z
SUMMARY:Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre Seminar - Targeting Mito
 chondrial and Mevalonate Metabolic Dependencies in Diffuse Midline Gliom
 a
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DESCRIPTION:Please join us for a brain tumour theme seminar hosted by Pro
 fessor Petra Hamerlik on Monday 18th May\, 3-4pm in the Michael Smith Le
 cture Theatre. \n\nLocation: Michael Smith Building\, University of Manc
 hester\, Dover Street\, M13 9PT\n\nTargeting Mitochondrial and Mevalonat
 e Metabolic Dependencies in Diffuse Midline Glioma - Dr Javad Nazarian\,
  DIPG/DMG Research Centre\, University Children’s Hospital Zurich\n\nDif
 fuse midline glioma (DMG) is a lethal pediatric brain tumor with no effe
 ctive cure. Our work identifies a metabolic vulnerability in DMG centere
 d on cholesterol biosynthesis. We found that trifluoperazine (TFP)\, an 
 FDA-approved brain-penetrant drug\, selectively disrupts mitochondrial f
 unction in DMG cells while sparing astrocytes. Multi-omic analyses showe
 d that this stress response activates cholesterol programs\, revealing a
  dependency that can be therapeutically exploited. Patient tumors demons
 trated constitutive SREBP2 activation\, and statins showed strong synerg
 y with TFP in vitro\, an effect reversed by cholesterol supplementation.
  In orthotopic DMG models\, both TFP and atorvastatin prolonged survival
 . These findings suggest that DMG relies on a targetable cholesterol pat
 hway and support repurposing FDA-approved agents as a translational stra
 tegy for this devastating disease.\n\nBio: Dr Javad Nazarian’s research 
 focuses on understanding and treating diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) and
  diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs). He serves as Head of the DIP
 G/DMG Research Center at the University Children’s Hospital Zürich and a
 s Scientific Co-Chair of the Children’s Brain Tumor Network (CBTN). His 
 pioneering work has shaped the molecular and clinical understanding of D
 MGs/DIPGs\, leading advances in liquid biopsy development\, tumor evolut
 ion mapping\, and identification of novel therapeutic targets. Dr Nazari
 an is also the co-founder and co-lead of the international DMG-ACT (DMG 
 Adaptive and Combinatorial Therapies) initiative\, uniting 56 institutio
 ns across three continents to accelerate translation of laboratory disco
 veries. Their main goal is to improve outcomes for children with DMG thr
 ough innovative clinical trial designs.\n\n\nNo need to register - every
 one is welcome to attend. 
STATUS:TENTATIVE
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
CLASS:PUBLIC
LOCATION:Michael Smith Lecture Theature \, Michael Smith Building\, Manch
 ester
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