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Lab Head
- Nathan Gordon Chair & Director, Pediatric Neuro-Oncology
- Director, Pediatric Neurofibromatosis (NF) Program
- Associate Professor (with tenure), Neurosciences
- Member, Moores Cancer Center at UCSD
I am a pediatric neurologist with PhD training in molecular biology & genetics studying neurodevelopment and postdoctoral research training in mouse genetics technology. As a physician-scientist, the goal of my translational pediatric neuro-oncology research program is to bridge the translational gaps between laboratory-based benchwork and clinical trials in children.
In my spare time, my family and I are getting used to West Coast living with my personal goal to maintain my tennis skills as long as I can before my three children eventually get bored hitting with me.
Team Members
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Research Fellow
Hometown: Ames, Iowa
Undergrad Institution: Stanford University
Graduate Institution(s)/Fellowships: UCSD School of Medicine/Rady Children’s Hospital
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Climbing
Research Interests/Project: I am developing RNA-based therapies for pediatric malignancies, and more broadly translating discoveries in RNA biology into new therapeutic approaches.
Selected Publications:
Fang, Mark Y., et al. "Small-molecule modulation of TDP-43 recruitment to stress granules prevents persistent TDP-43 accumulation in ALS/FTD." Neuron 103.5 (2019): 802-819.
Nelles, David A., Fang, Mark Y., et al. "Programmable RNA tracking in live cells with CRISPR/Cas9." Cell 165.2 (2016): 488-496.
Awards/Grants:
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Bryan Kincheon Li, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Research Fellow
- Assistant Adjunct Professor, Pediatrics
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Undergrad Institution: University of Toronto
Graduate Institution(s)/Fellowships: University of Toronto / MSKCC
Personal Interests/Hobbies: road cycling, judo, urbanism
Research Interests/Project: I am studying how to circumvent the blood-brain barrier to improve therapies for DMG/DIPG, a highly aggressive childhood brain tumor specifically using a novel P-selectin targeting platform technology. My goal is to package targeted anti-cancer therapeutics, enhancing their delivery into the DMG tumor space while sparing normal brain tissue to reduce side-effects.
Selected Publications:
Li BK et al., Pineoblastoma segregates into molecular subgroups with distinct clinicopathologic features: A Rare Brain Tumor Consortium study. Acta Neuropath. 2020 Feb;139(2):223-241. Cover article.
Liu APY, Li BK et al., “SNO-EANO-EURACAN consensus review on the diagnosis and management of pineal parenchymal tumors”. Neuro-Onc. Epub Jul 29, 2024. Editor’s Choice.
Awards/Grants:
ChadTough Defeat DIPG Fellowship (2026-2029)
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Research Fellow
Hometown: London, United Kingdom
Undergrad Institution: University of Hertfordshire, UK
Graduate Institution(s): University of Hertfordshire, UK
Personal Interests/Hobbies: hiking, traveling, baking, shopping
Research Interests/Project: I am a postdoctoral researcher investigating microRNA biomarkers and therapeutic targets in medulloblastomas to improve diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Building on my PhD in brain tumour biology, my goal is to translate molecular discoveries into clinical advances that enhance precision medicine and outcomes for children with brain malignancies.
Selected Publications:
Mustafov D, Thomas L, Siddiqui SS, Lambrou GI, & Braoudaki M. New microRNA-based therapies reveal common targets in paediatric medulloblastoma and adult glioblastoma. Scientific Reports 2025; 15(1): 23044.
Mustafov D, Siddiqui SS, Klena L, Karteris E, & Braoudaki M. SV2B/miR-34a/miR-128 axis as prognostic biomarker in glioblastoma multiforme. Scientific Reports 2024; 14(1): 6647.
Awards/Grants:
Top Poster Award – 2025 SNO Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Conference, San Diego, CA
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MD/PhD Student
Hometown: Queens, NY
Undergrad Institution: Smith College
Graduate Institution(s)/Fellowships: MSTP Student, UCSD
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Running, painting, traveling, eating, and a cloud/plants enthusiast
Research Interests/Project: I am interested in understanding how cancer cells spread to their metastatic sites and how they meet their survival needs in the new environment. In the Raju lab, I am working on a project that studies the metastatic drivers of SHH medulloblastoma leptomeningeal metastases.
Selected Publications:
Remsik J, Tong X, Kunes, RZ, Li MJ, Estrera R, Snyder J, Thomson C, Osman AM, Chabot K, Sener UT, Wilcox JA, Isakov D, Wang H, Bale TA, Chaligné R, Sun JC, Brown C, Pe'er D, & Boire A. Interferon-γ orchestrates leptomeningeal anti-tumour response. Nature 2025; 643(8073), 1087–1096.
Awards/Grants:
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Lab Manager
Jeff has over 20 years of laboratory set-up and management experience at UCSD. He brings a wealth of experience to manage multiple basic-translational laboratories, and numerous operational, regulatory and budgetary complexities within a diverse, multi-institutional collaborative research environment. In his spare time, Jeff loves exploring local craft breweries, motorcycles, and escaping to his cabin out of town.