As part of our commitment to developing the next generation of brain tumour researchers, we're proud to support PhD students such as Ellie Lambri at our Centre of Excellence at the Queen Mary University of London.
In this guest blog, Ellie shares her journey into science, the inspiration behind her research, and how she's working to improve outcomes for children diagnosed with medulloblastoma:
I have always had an interest in science, particularly human biology and disease, which led me to study a Master's degree in cancer research. During my Master's, my father was diagnosed with and treated for a brain tumour. It was an incredibly difficult time for my family, and I found myself using my background in cancer biology to spend hours researching brain tumours.
I was struck not only by the fascinating biology but also by how underfunded research into brain tumours remains. Despite brain tumours killing more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, they receive only a small proportion of national cancer research funding. Fuelled by this knowledge, as well as my personal experience and passion for scientific research, I decided to pursue a PhD in paediatric brain tumour research to contribute to better understanding and improved outcomes for patients and families affected by these devastating diseases.
“My research focuses on medulloblastoma, the most common high-grade brain tumour in children. Although it is one of the most serious childhood cancers, there is still so much we do not understand about the disease.”
Ellie with her dad
Paediatric cancers are particularly devastating because they affect children at such an important stage of life. Children should be able to enjoy their childhoods without worrying about hospital appointments, surgery or cancer treatment. That is why improving both survival and quality of life for children diagnosed with brain tumours is so important to me. Every step forward in our understanding of the disease has the potential to make a difference.
Unlike many cancers, medulloblastoma tumours are usually not caused by changes in the DNA itself, but by problems with how genetic material within a cell is read and controlled. This is known as epigenetics. While researchers have spent many years studying these changes at the genetic level, we still do not fully understand how they affect proteins, the molecules responsible for carrying out most functions within cells.
My PhD aims to explore this missing piece of the puzzle. By studying proteins in tumour cells and comparing them with proteins in healthy brain cells, I hope to better understand what makes these tumour cells behave differently. If we can identify critical changes in the proteins that help tumour cells survive and grow, we may be able to uncover new weaknesses that future treatments could target.
Most of my days are spent in the laboratory comparing tumour cells derived from patient samples alongside normal healthy cells from different regions of the brain. I isolate proteins from these cells and use mass spectrometry, a technique that allows us to measure thousands of proteins simultaneously. This enables me to build a detailed picture of which proteins are altered in tumour cells and how groups of proteins may be working together to drive the disease.
What excites me most about my PhD is the opportunity to discover something completely new. We are investigating proteins in ways that have not been extensively explored before in these tumours. There is real potential for the research to reveal insights that deepen our understanding of medulloblastoma and may also have wider relevance to other childhood cancers. The possibility of contributing even a small piece to improving patient outcomes is incredibly motivating.
Of course, research comes with its challenges. One of the biggest lessons I have learned is how to deal with uncertainty. Experiments do not always work as expected, and sometimes results create more questions than answers. Fortunately, I have been lucky enough to have supportive supervisors and colleagues who have helped me build resilience and problem-solving skills along the way.
One of the things that has surprised me most is the collaborative nature of research. A PhD is often thought of as a solo pursuit, but in reality, progress comes through sharing ideas and working with others. As someone new to research, I feel incredibly lucky to work at the Centre of Excellence and learn from people with such a wide range of expertise and experience.
“Brain Tumour Research funding has been vital to my work. It has enabled me to undertake this PhD and contribute to an exciting and relatively unexplored area of brain tumour biology.”
Just as importantly, the Charity ensures researchers never lose sight of why this work matters. Through Brain Tumour Research lab tours, I have had the opportunity to meet patients, families and supporters. These visits are an important reminder of the real-world impact of our work, allowing researchers to see who we are ultimately working for and supporters to see how their donations are helping to advance research. They are incredibly motivating and reinforce the importance of the work we do every day.
Looking ahead, I hope my research contributes to a better understanding of medulloblastoma and helps identify new ways to treat the disease. Scientific progress takes time, but every discovery brings us one step closer to more effective treatments with fewer long-term side effects. Ultimately, I hope this research will help more children not only survive but thrive after treatment.
One in three children who die of cancer is killed by a brain tumour. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and we need your help to give hope to families affected by childhood brain tumours.
Consider making a donation or setting up a monthly gift to help ensure we can continue to fund research into childhood brain tumours.
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