Brain Tumor Research Alliance of Manitoba (BTRAM) is a collaborative forum for brain tumor researchers in Manitoba who meet on a monthly basis to share research and plan new initiatives.
Objectives:
- to achieve innovation in research and advancement in brain tumor treatment by integrating clinical and basic medical science expertise and resources.
- to deliver the most advanced medical expertise and clinical care for the benefit of brain tumor patients and their relatives.
- to provide a platform for brain tumor research with advanced networking among researchers in Manitoba.
- to establish centralized data collection of all brain tumor resources in Manitoba and network with other brain tumor centers in Canada and the US.
Strategies:
- To establish a patient-centered care which includes advanced diagnostic strategies, molecular tumor phenotyping, comprehensive treatment options and follow-up.
- to expand an integrated central patient data base for comprehensive data analysis of genetic/ molecular/ metabolic/ proteomic profiles, clinical parameters, treatments and responses.
Promote research addressing key issues in brain tumor research:
- new diagnostic markers for early detection, prognosis and brain tumor monitoring;
- new therapeutic strategies
- the role of the stem-like compartment in tumor propagation;
- tumor cell heterogeneity;
- the effect of the tumor micro-environment on the behavior of brain tumors.
Current expertise provided by the team:
- Stem cell propagation (pediatric and adult brain tumors)
- Animal models of brain tumors and various in vitro cell models and functional assays
- Molecular aspects of chemoresistance in brain tumor and nanotherapeutics
- Advanced neuroradiology and metabolic imaging
- Blood-brain-barrier
- Brain tissue printing, mass spectrometry and proteomic analysis
- Tissue and cell procurement and clinical data bank
- Integrated Faculty Service Platform resources and high-resolution fluorescence imaging