Tanaka lab

Introduction

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common malignant brain tumor and very hard to be cured by current treatment options. Genetic information of GBM, such as RNA and chromatin, is important not only to reveal molecular mechanisms of cancer growth, but also find out new drug targets for future therapeutic development. However, it remains unclear how these genetic features (e.g. RNA expression, chromatin modifications) contribute to tumor progression and clinical outcome. Our long-term research vision aims to clarify molecular mechanisms of brain tumor progression and association of the genetic features with patients' phenotypes. To achieve this goal, our lab utilizes 1) 3D culture system of human brain organoids and spheroids and 2) bioinformatics technique to extract biologically-meaningful information from the complex genetic datasets. 

Organoids & Tumor Spheroid

3D brain organoids and tumor spheroids are lab-grown mini tissues and invaluable platforms to investigate brain tumor and other neurological diseases in the human system.

Bioinformatics

Due to recent advance of sequencers, various genomic features (e.g. RNA, chromatin) can be profiled even at single cell level. Bioinformatics is a technique to dissect large-scale genomic datasets.

Artificial Intelligence

The complexity of genomic data gives rise to substantial challenges to develop robust computational tools. We are developing analytic tools with artificial intelligence and machine learning.

News & Announcement (by Twitter)

Recruitment

The successful candidate will perform single-nucleus multiome sequencing analysis of Parkinson’s disease or Lewy Body Dementia patients to clarify molecular mechanisms of these diseases. The candidate requires not only computational skills (e.g. programming, statistics, artificial intelligence), but also must have excellent communication skills. Please also see the following announcement (English and French).

He/She will help lab management (e.g. ordering reagents) and perform experimental tasks including, but not limited to, cell culture, RNA extraction, molecular cloning, and immuno-fluorescence imaging. Experience in embryonic stem cell culture are considered an asset (English and French) 

Please send the following items to yoshiaki.tanaka@umontreal.ca