“Receiving this funding from CTF is a huge step forward for my research on MPNST. With these funds, I’ll be able to better understand the pathways involved in MPNST tumor growth.”

“I hope to focus more on the mechanisms of hearing loss in NF2-SWN mouse models and potentially identify biomarkers that can be clinically implemented.”

“I intend to use a combination of genetic, biochemical and behavioral techniques to address this poorly understood aspect of NF1 pathobiology.”

“I am hoping to elucidate more knowledge of the role of NF1 during skeletal development, paving the way for research to begin looking at therapeutic and corrective measures.”

“I am hoping to dissect the molecular determinants of DGCR8-schwannomas and unveil new vulnerabilities that could be exploited for future therapy and clinical management of patients by integrating multi-omic profiling of patient samples with engineered cell line models.”

“NF1 increases the risk for various cancers, and cancers are a major cause of premature mortality among individuals with NF1. My project aims to describe the cancer risks and disease characteristics typical for NF1. The analysis of multiple primary cancers among individuals with NF1 will elucidate whether the history of a certain cancer indicates a higher risk for a new cancer. Studying the role of family history of cancer in NF1 will also help to predict the future risk for cancer. The identification of such associations may allow targeted screening approaches to detect cancers at an earlier stage. The survival after breast cancer has been reported to be worse among women with NF1 than among women without NF1, and the project aims to find out why this is the case in order to identify approaches to improve the prognosis.”

“I am working with meningioma and schwannoma cell lines and have started generating 3D models to more closely mimic the tumors in vivo. From this project, I hope to learn the role of the angiogenic peptide apelin in NF2-deficient tumors and understand whether targeting apelin could disrupt the abnormal vascularization and tumor growth.”

“We are hoping to better understand how MPNSTs metastasize and to identify and screen various therapeutics that inhibit metastasis in order to improve outcomes for patients. I hope to continue investigating mechanisms of cancer initiation and progression with the ultimate goal of working with other scientists to develop better treatment options for patients.”

“Using the Drosophila model, we aim to understand how NF1 mutation affects sensory neuron excitability and circuit dynamics, and how peripheral sensory disturbances are transformed in the brain to shape social behavior. . . I would like to use my background in electrophysiology and the knowledge I’m currently gaining in genetic and imaging techniques to investigate changes in circuit dynamics that occur in NF1 and other neurodevelopmental disorders, specifically in relation to sensorimotor deficits.”