UF Health Neurosurgery at the 2022 SNO Annual Meeting

UF Health Neurosurgery is well-represented at the Society of Neuro-Oncology (SNO) 27th Annual Meeting. Our involvement includes keynote speaker Duane Mitchell, M.D., Ph.D., five oral abstract presenters and over twenty poster presentations.

Connect with the University of Florida Department of Neurosurgery at SNO throughout the weekend by visiting our booth, #310 and connect with our faculty to learn about our job opportunities. Come join our growing, dynamic team.


Keynote & Oral Presentations

Friday, November 18, 4:45 PM – 4:55 PM ET & SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 11:15 AM – 11:25 AM ET

Oral Abstract Presenter: Elias Sayour, M.D., Ph.D.

Friday: CTIM-28 – Multilamellar mRNA lipid particles induce immunologic reprogramming in canine and human glioblastoma patients.

NON-CME
Location: Ballroom B

Sunday: EXTH-46 – RNA lipid particles induce bi-directional immunity against diffuse midline glioma.

NON-CME
Location: Ballroom A

sayour

Saturday, November 19, 5:30 PM – 5:35 PM ET

Oral Abstract Presenter: Christina A. von Roemeling, Ph.D.

EXTH-93 – The IRAK-4 inhibitor Emavusertib (CA-4948) for the treatment of primary CNS lymphoma.

NON-CME
Location: Ballroom B

von roemling

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 11:05 AM – 11:15 AM ET

Oral Abstract Presenter: Catherine Flores, Ph.D.


EXTH-83 – Developmentally regulated antigens for immunologic targeting of embryonal pediatric brain cancers

NON-CME
Location: Ballroom A

Dr. Catherine Flores works in the lab at the McKnight Brain Institute

Sunday, November 20, 11:55 AM – 12:00 PM ET

Oral Abstract Presenter: Oleg Yegorov, Ph.D.

CTIM-31 – Immunologic monitoring after adoptive cell therapy in pediatric patients with recurrent medulloblastoma using immunogenomics approach.

NON-CME
Location: Ballroom A

oleg

Friday, November 18, 5:05 PM – 5:15 PM

Oral Abstract Presenter: Ugoma Onubogu, B.Sc.

TMIC-71 – Spatial Analysis of Genetic Heterogeneity and Tumor Microenvironment Interactions in Glioblastoma.
NON-CME
Location: Ballroom A

ugoma onubogu

Friday, November 18, 2022, 1:05 PM – 1:15 PM ET

Oral Abstract Presenter: Alayna Ernster, PhD

QOL-20 – Patterns and predictors of anxiety and depression symptom trajectories in patients diagnosed with primary brain tumors.

qol

Poster Presentations

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER, 18

7:30 PM – 9:30 PM ET

Location: West/Central Hall

On Friday evening, we will have over 20 poster presentations at the conference’s poster session from our physicians, researchers and students covering a wide variety of leading-edge topics in neuro-oncology.

  • QOL-05 – Opiate utilization and predictive factors in patients undergoing surgery for gliomas, Phuong Deleyrolle, R.N.
  • CTIM-05 – Final results of 2-THE-TOP: a pilot phase 2 study of TTFields (Optune) plus pembrolizumab plus maintenance temozolomide (TMZ) in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (ndGBM), David D. Tran, M.D., Ph.D.
  • CTIM-07 – Phase II randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial testing pp65 CMV mRNA dendritic cell vaccine and tetanus-diphtheria toxoid for newly diagnosed GBM (ATTAC II, NCT02465268), Anjelica Body, Ashley P. Ghiaseddin, M.D.
  • CTIM-30 – The private and recurring antigenic profile of human medulloblastoma, Changlin Yang, M.D.
  • DDDR-29 – The hydrogel-CXCL9-mRNA (HCM) vaccine results in significant anti-tumor efficacy through recruitment of natural killer (NK) cells, Ghaidaa Ebrahim, Maryam Rahman, M.D.
  • EXTH-38 – Neoadjuvant PD1 blockade alters the tumor immune microenvironment after surgery in a preclinical model of recurrent glioblastoma, Lan Hoang-Minh, Ph.D.
  • EXTH-44 – Personalized immunotherapy vaccines for glioblastoma and their treatment efficacy, Vrunda Trivedi, M.S.
  • EXTH-57 – Identification of novel immune checkpoint molecule in glioma, LAIR1, Haipeng Tao, M.D., Ph.D.
  • EXTH-70 – Immunotherapy reverses glioma-driven dysfunction of immune system homeostasis, Bayli Dean, Ph.D.
  • EXTH-71 – Chemotactic recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) virotherapy improves lymphocyte recruitment in glioblastoma (GBM), Christina A. von Roemeling, Ph.D.
  • EXTH-92 – Targeting primary central nervous system B cell lymphoma IgH clonotypes using novel RNA-NPs, Paul Castillo, M.D.
  • EXTH-83 – Developmentally regulated antigens for immunologic targeting of embryonal pediatric brain cancers, Catherine Flores, PhD
  • IMMU-21 – Glioma-derived factors recruit and induce an immune suppressive phenotype in bone marrow-derived CCR2+ myeloid cells, Gregory P. Takacs, B.S.
  • CCL4 drives glioblastoma (GBM) tumor microenvironment (TME) reprogramming after treatment with a novel mRNA vaccine, Kyle McGrath, B.S., Maryam Rahman, M.D.
  • IMMU-42 – Adoptive hematopoietic stem cell and aPD1 therapy converge in the thymus to promote anti-glioblastoma immunity, Connor Francis, M.D., Ph.D. Candidate
  • INNV-27 – Safety of direct oral anticoagulants as compared to low molecular weight heparin in treating venous thromboembolism in patients with primary brain tumors and brain metastases, Nirja Shah, M.D. Candidate
  • MODL-18 – Organotypic Brain Slice Cultures: A Comprehensive Model for Primary CNS Tumor studies, Alexandra Reid
  • STEM-23 – Slow cycling cell RNA-based T cell therapy to prevent recurrence in GBM, Cole Conforti
  • TMET-21 – Enhancing the Metabolic Fitness of T Cells to Treat Brain Tumors, Tanya Ghosh
  • TMIC-13 – Glioma-driven dendritic cell dysfunction as an immune evasion strategy against adoptive cellular therapy, Dan Jin
  • TMIC-32 – Tumor cell cilia associate with specific immune cell populations in human and mouse models of GBM, Matthew Sarkisian, Ph.D.
  • TMIC-55 – Immune digital-spatial profiling and characterization of glioma microenvironment after adoptive cellular therapy, John Figg, M.D., Ph.D. Candidate
  • TMIC-56 – Tumor Cell Architectural Heterogeneity and Spatial Interactions with the Tumor Immune Microenvironment in GBM, Diana Feier
  • TMIC-84 – Multiregional analysis of glioblastoma reveals topological divergence of cancer cells and their surrounding microenvironment, Roberto M. Salatino

Come Work With the Preston A. Wells Center for Brain Tumor Therapy at the University of Florida

Click to Apply: Board-certified/board-eligible Neuro-Oncologist

The Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Florida is seeking a board-certified/board-eligible neuro-oncologist & AST/ASO/FULL Professor (tenure or non-tenure track) to help support patient care and interdisciplinary clinical research within the Lillian S. Wells Department of Neurosurgery adult neuro-oncology service.

The Preston A. Wells Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy at the University of Florida supports an interdisciplinary team of researchers and clinicians in the field of neuro-oncology, neurosurgery, and radiation oncology. UF Health neurosurgeons perform approximately 600 brain tumor operations annually, making them one of the highest-volume academic neurosurgery teams in the country. The Center supports the most advanced neuro-oncology care and research in the world. Currently, there are 15 ongoing clinical trials for brain tumors at UF, and four of those, including two first-in-human trials, are hosted by PR principal investigators at the center. The brain tumor research teams at the center include more than 20 scientists who are focused on finding a cure for brain cancer.

This position will be responsible for:

  • Supporting an interdisciplinary clinical-translational research team.
  • Supporting interdisciplinary medical neuro-oncology patient care.
  • The preferred candidate would also support interdisciplinary medical neuro-oncology teaching within the Health Science Center and participate and lead commitments in regional and national professional societies.

Compensation will be commensurate with the applicant’s experience and accomplishments.


Click to Apply: Board-certified/board-eligible pediatric Neuro-Oncologist

The Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Florida is seeking a board-certified/board-eligible pediatric neuro-oncologist for the role of Director, Pediatric Neuro-Oncology & AST/ASO/FULL Professor (tenure or non-tenure track) at the Preston A. Wells, Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy at UF Health. This faculty position will lead clinical and research efforts for the pediatric neuro-oncology program, as well as have responsibility for teaching housestaff, fellows and medical students assigned to the UF Health Cancer Center and/or department.

The ideal candidate will have strong clinical training and background in pediatric neuro-oncology care, well-developed research skills and interests in pursuing basic, clinical, or translational research focused on pediatric brain tumors. The Wells Brain Tumor Center at UF Health is the only member in the state of Florida of the NCI Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium (PBTC) and Pacific Neuro-Oncology Consortium (PNOC) and the Director of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology will play an instrumental role in supporting active participation in these national brain tumor consortia.

The Director of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology will oversee and provide leadership in the clinical, basic and translational research programs and will have the opportunity to implement early phase and investigator-initiated clinical trials, as well as collaborations with immunotherapy and cell and gene therapy programs. Opportunities to collaborate and/or lead clinical, translational and basic laboratory research projects/programs are available in the Departments of Pediatrics and UF Health Cancer Center. Clinical duties will include inpatient and outpatient care.

Compensation will be commensurate with the applicant’s experience and accomplishments.


AI Researcher for the University of Florida Department of Neurosurgery

The University of Florida is embarking on a campus-wide strategic initiative to hire clusters of faculty members with expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI), broadly defined. As part of this initiative, the Department of Neurosurgery is seeking qualified applicants for a tenure-track faculty position focusing on AI applications in brain tumor diagnosis, treatment, and/or health outcomes. Additionally, applications for neurosurgical diseases, i.e. cerebrovascular disease, primary and metastatic tumors treated by stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), etc. where data science, machine learning, and AI applications may improve diagnosis, treatment, and/or disease prevention are of interest. 

Additional expectations of the position include:

  • Maintaining a strong sponsored research program, supervising graduate students, collaborating with other faculty in and outside the department, and being involved in service to the university and the profession.

This position will be filled at the Assistant, Associate, or Full professor faculty level in the Department of Neurosurgery. The ranking for this position is commensurate with education and experience.

Minimum requirements: Ph.D., M.D., or M.D./Ph.D

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Ph.D. or M.D. in Biomedical Sciences or computer science, or a related biomedical or quantitative field.
  • Proficiency in applying machine learning and AI algorithms to neurological diseases is required.
  • Outstanding record of research accomplishments, a strong interest in graduate education, and a commitment to professional service.

To learn more about this position please email Duane Mitchell, M.D., Ph.D.


immunotherapy clinical trial

Click to Learn More: Neuro-Oncology Fellowship

As part of one of the top-funded neurosurgery departments in the United States, our fellowship program is a destination for those interested in an academic career in Neuro-oncology.

The University of Florida Lillian S. Wells Department of Neurosurgery invites individuals with M.D., M.D./Ph.D. or D.O. training who are interested in an academic career in Neuro-oncology to apply for a fellowship to engage in clinical rotations while partaking in various research and educational activities.

The University of Florida Lillian S. Wells Department of Neurosurgery accepts one fellow each year and applicants are accepted based on their potential to become successful academic subspecialists. The program will accept applications on a rolling basis through the ERAS program starting in 2022 for a position in July 2024.


Click to Apply: Postdoctoral Fellow Position

The Deleyrolle Lab in the Department of Neurosurgery and the Wells Center for Brain Tumor Therapy at the University of Florida is recruiting a postdoctoral fellow to use unbiased approaches (RNA-Seq, scRNA-Seq, spatial profiling, and flow cytometry) to identify novel molecular and cellular events in brain tumors with different treatments. Functional validation of results using standard molecular biology techniques will be performed in vitro and in vivo using patient-derived xenograft line, primary samples and murine models.

The ideal applicants should have a doctoral degree (PhD or MD/PhD) with strong background in cancer biology, tumor immunology, and immunotherapy with experience in:

  • Molecular biology for cell genetic engineering of immune cells (e.g., CAR T cell production) and tumor cells using techniques such as CRISPR, viral transduction, and plasmid transfection (e.g., PiggyBac)
  • Bioinformatics (bulk and single cell RNA sequencing)
  • Preference will be given to candidates with these additional qualifications in:
  • Molecular Biology (e.g., RNA extraction/production/sequencing, WB, PCR)
  • Cell culture (tumor cells and immune cells such as dendritic cells and T cells)
  • Immunohistochemistry Microscopy
  • Flow cytometry
  • Animal surgery and monitoring

Connect With Us

Make sure to follow @UFNeurosurgery on Twitter to stay up-to-date throughout the conference and come by our booth, #310.


Tammy Lindsay, R.N., B.S.N.
UF Health Business Development

Cell: 352-339-5415/ Fax: 352-733-0016
Email: Lindst@shands.ufl.edu
For a referral form, email Tammy Lindsay