Funded projects

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  Benjamin Watkin

  University of Auckland

  Doctoral scholarship - $166,174 - Funding Round: 2024 B

  The Contribution and Mechanisms of Pericytes in Aberrant Extracellular Matrix Deposition and Signalling in Glioblastoma

  Glioblastoma is the most aggressive brain cancer in adults and, sadly, has no cure. My research focuses on how this cancer spreads by examining its support structure, known as the extracellular matrix, and signals from nearby cells and immune factors that might drive harmful changes. By analysing patient samples and using advanced lab models such as organoids, I aim to uncover how these elements help glioblastoma invade healthy brain tissue. This understanding could lead to new treatment options which are especially needed in New Zealand, where glioblastoma is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths, especially among Māori children.