Sylvester Researcher Ifeanyichukwu Ogobuiro Receives Grant to Further Brain Cancer Research

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center shared a post on LinkedIn:

“The $50,000 grant from the Radiological Society of North America will help advance studies to unravel cancer’s resistance to treatment.

The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) has awarded Ifeanyichukwu Ogobuiro, a resident physician at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, a 2025 RSNA Research Resident Grant to support his innovative research into radiation resistance in glioblastoma (GBM), a highly aggressive and malignant brain tumor.

‘Dr. Ogobuiro’s work exemplifies the kind of bold, translational research we need to overcome the formidable challenge of glioblastoma,’ said Markus Bredel, chairman and Sylvester professor of radiation oncology and Dr. Ogobuiro’s mentor. ‘His RSNA grant is a testament to both his scientific rigor and his commitment to improving outcomes for patients facing this devastating disease. We are proud to support his journey as a physician-scientist.’

The one-year, $50,000 grant will fund his project titled “Unraveling Bri3-Mediated Radiation Resistance in Glioblastoma: A Path Towards Therapeutic Innovation.”

Glioblastoma (GBM) is among the most aggressive and treatment-resistant brain cancers. Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Ogobuiro’s research focuses on the CNS-specific protein BRI3, which has emerged as a potential driver of radiation resistance. Preliminary findings from his lab indicate that high BRI3 expression is associated with a poor prognosis across multiple glioma datasets. In GBM models, BRI3 knock-out significantly sensitizes tumor cells to radiation, and mechanistic studies suggest that BRI3 regulates the transcription of genes critical to DNA integrity.

Dr. Ogobuiro’s research will explore two main questions:

How does BRI3 control genes that protect cancer cells from radiation?
Can targeting BRI3 in preclinical models improve how tumors respond to treatment?

‘This work represents a critical step toward understanding how glioblastoma evades one of our most powerful treatment tools—radiation. By targeting BRI3, we hope to uncover a new vulnerability in these tumors and ultimately develop more effective, personalized therapies for patients facing this devastating disease,’ Dr. Ogobuiro said.

Although researchers have made many discoveries about brain tumors, treatment approaches haven’t changed much in the past 20 years, said Dr. Ogobuiro.

‘Radiation therapy is still the main option for glioblastoma, and even with the addition of drugs like temozolomide, survival rates remain low—fewer than 5% of patients live beyond five years. This project aims to uncover new reasons why glioblastoma resists treatment, with the goal of finding better ways to improve patient outcomes,’ he said.

Dr. Ogobuiro, who won a first-place poster award at the recent Geneva, Switzerland, International Stereotactic Radiosurgery Society (ISRS) CNS Summit for a functional radiosurgery study led by Dr. Bredel, ‘Frameless Linear Accelerator-Based Virtual Cone Essential & Parkinsonian Tremor: A Phase I/II Prospective Clinical Trial,’ will initiate the Holman Physician-Scientist Pathway—the first in the history of UM—this summer. During this time, he will have protected time to complete his doctoral degree in cancer biology while working on the awarded grant proposal and related projects.

The RSNA grant also includes an invitation for Dr. Ogobuiro to present his findings at the RSNA 111th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, taking place Nov. 30–Dec. 4, in Chicago.”