MISSION STATEMENT

Malignant pediatric brain tumors have a profound impact on the lives of affected children and their families. The most common of these tumors is medulloblastoma (MB) — a malignant brain tumor that remains difficult to treat, with 20–30% of patients still succumbing to the disease. Even among survivors, long-term quality of life is often compromised due to the side effects of the aggressive therapies needed to control tumor growth. There is an urgent need for more precise and less toxic treatment strategies that specifically target the molecular mechanisms driving tumor progression, while preserving normal brain function.

Our research focuses on understanding tumor cell migration and tissue invasion — key biological processes that enable the metastatic spread of malignant tumors such as MB. Our primary goal is to develop and investigate molecular targeting strategies that can disrupt the cellular programs responsible for these invasive behaviors. By uncovering new mechanistic insights into how tumor cells move and invade, we aim to deepen our understanding of the molecular basis of pediatric brain tumor growth and progression.

In parallel, we study how tumor cells interact with their surrounding tissue microenvironment, seeking to identify the regulatory networks that control tumor behavior. Through this work, we aim to reveal novel therapeutic targets and biological principles that can ultimately guide the development of more effective treatments for children with medulloblastoma and related brain tumors.

Our lab is part of the Pediatric Oncology Division of the University Children's Hospital Zürich, affiliated with the Children's Research Center, the  Comprehensive Cancer Center Zürich, and the University of Zürich.

We receive or have received financial support from the SNF, the Swiss Cancer League, Stiftung Kinderkrebsforschung Schweiz, Innosuisse, Sassella Stiftung,  and Forschungsstiftung UZH. We are truly grateful for this generous financial support.

Diversity statement:

As a lab affiliated with the University of Zurich (UZH), we embrace diversity as a core value and tolerate no discrimination. We are committed to treating each other with esteem, respect, and open-mindedness regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, origin, religion, sexual orientation, social or occupational position, or language. In our encounters with each other, we welcome the opportunity to broaden our horizons, to learn from one another, and to thrive through new challenges.