A University of Iowa researcher is leading efforts to develop new treatments for a rare and extremely aggressive pediatric brain cancer. “The pediatric patients I have had the privilege of helping treat have had a profound impact on me, both in my training and in my current clinical position, as these patients are incredibly resilient in the midst of a scary time,” says Michelle Howard, PhD, assistant professor of radiation oncology. Howard and her team are leading efforts to develop treatments for DIPG, a pediatric cancer with a median five-year survival rate of only 2%.

The Howard Lab joined the department's yearly Holiday Gingerbread Competition with a Grinch-inspired gingerbread house to bring a little Whoville magic to the lab. It was a fun way to celebrate the season together (and yes, we took it very seriously).

Bri O'Leary, PhD spent 1.5 years with the Howard Lab leading the development of crucial DIPG models used for testing new drugs, assisting in new techniques and assays, and mentoring students. She will starting a new position in industry. Best of luck Bri!

Rana Rheem completed her Post-Baccalaureate fellowship in the Howard Lab this July. Rana spent two years as an undergraduate researcher prior to staying on as an ICARE Post-Bac. Her contributions to the lab were many, including a submitted first author publication this year. She will be taking a gap year as she prepares for medical school!

Undergraduate Research Fellow, Claire Graham, started in the Howard lab as a freshman and first undergraduate student. During her four years in the lab, Claire contributed to many projects, co-authored two publications, decorated the lab, and continued to make us laugh during lab meetings. She graduates with her BS in Biomedical Engineering. We are incredibly proud that she will be continuing her education as a predoctoral student in Biomedical Engineering and Physiology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN (where Dr. Howard also earned her PhD!).

The Howard lab received a philanthropic gift from the TaterTough DIPG Research Fund by Darcy and Brad Schaefer at their annual fundraising Gala. The TaterTough Foundation is committed to defeating DIPG so that no other child will have to fight like Tate Schaefer did. This spring Dr. Howard was awarded a seed grant from the Stead Family Children's Hospital Discretionary Funds from the University of lowa to study redox-related strategies to target DIPG.

Dangran Li is a rotating student in his first year of the Biomedical Science Ph.D. program here at Iowa. He completed his undergraduate degree of pharmaceutical engineering at Jiangnan University in Wuxi City, China and his masters of pharmacy at Nanjing University in Nanjing City. Welcome to the lab, Dangran!

New publication out!? ✨ Our latest study explores how combining Cu-ATSM with radiation therapy boosts survival effects in DIPG cells, paving the way for innovative approaches against this tough-to-treat pediatric cancer.