The Ty Louis Campbell Foundation (TLC) provided $75,000 in 2023 to support the Dahmane Lab at Weill Cornell Medicine in their groundbreaking research on AT/RT, a rare and aggressive childhood brain tumor. This project focuses on understanding the interaction between a key tumor suppressor gene, SMARCB1, and the transcription factor RP58, which plays an important role in neuronal development.
While the loss of SMARCB1 is known to drive AT/RT, the Dahmane Lab is exploring how the loss of RP58 may further influence tumor development, and how these processes relate to the stage of neuronal differentiation. Using patient tumor samples, advanced cell models, and patient-derived animal models, the team is investigating how these molecular interactions contribute to disease progression.
This research addresses a critical knowledge gap in AT/RT biology. By uncovering the fundamental mechanisms driving these tumors, the Dahmane Lab aims to inform drug development, improve prognostic tools, and pave the way for targeted therapies that could restore the function of key proteins or otherwise counteract their loss.
The promise of this work is already evident: in 2023, the Dahmane Lab’s findings were so impactful that they were awarded two government grants to continue their studies—highlighting the potential of this research to transform the treatment landscape for children with AT/RT.
