Research

Glioblastoma (GBM), glioma grade IV, is a devastating cancer with an annual incidence of 3.19/100,000 individuals per year (~10,000) and a median survival of 14.6 months following standard-of-care surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.  Few advances in treatment have been realized over the past 20 years, and 2-year survival remains close to 25%.  We are developing novel methods for treating GBM and improving the outcomes of patients with this devastating disease.  Our research focuses several areas of immuno-oncology, supported by model establishment and development.  Dr. O'Rourke's position in the University of Pennsylvania Brain and Spinal Cord Tumor Program provides our group with access to significant tumor tissue resources, providing a wide variety of GBM models for our research.

The program focuses on translational GBM research with an emphasis on immune-based therapies.  Current projects include 1) generation of novel immunotherapies; 2) delineation of the tumor microenvironment; 3) strategies for addressing tumor heterogeneity in GBM; and 4) development of high-fidelity tumor models.

 

In addition to the translational efforts, the O’Rourke/Binder group runs the GBM Translational Center of Excellence, coordinating major GBM research efforts in a large variety of labs, and the Adult Brain Tumor Tissue Bank.  We also coordinate correlative assays with the ongoing clinical trials through the Neurosurgery Clinical Research Division.