Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center shared a post on LinkedIn:
“The Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO) has announced Juan Blaquier, M.D., currently a neuro-oncology fellow who will transition to faculty in September at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, as the inaugural recipient of its Emerging Oncology Leaders Research Grant.
The $50,000 award will fund Dr. Blaquier’s research into gliomas—brain tumors that develop resistance to IDH inhibitors. Dr. Blaquier’s research will explore the biological mechanisms underlying this resistance.
We spoke with Dr. Blaquier about how his work is shaping the future of cancer care. The following includes his lightly edited responses.
What inspired you to focus your research on IDH inhibitor resistance in gliomas?
‘As new treatments such as IDH inhibitors become available for patients, we have an opportunity to directly target the mechanisms that drive tumor cells. However, we know that over time some of these cells will develop resistance. It is therefore crucial to identify why this happens so we can design the best strategies to overcome resistance. In gliomas, IDH inhibitors are a very recent addition to our therapeutic arsenal, but it’s important to think ahead and turn these resistance mechanisms into opportunities for new treatments.’
Can you share more about the methodology you’ll be using in this study?
‘Glioma cell models, especially IDH-mutant models, are particularly difficult to establish in the laboratory, which makes this type of research challenging. As an alternative, we propose to study real tumor samples and compare the genetic, epigenetic and metabolic changes that occur after treatment with IDH inhibitors.’
What are the potential implications of your findings for patients and clinicians?
‘By understanding resistance mechanisms, we can begin to develop tailored treatment strategies to overcome them. This could lead to new targets and more personalized treatment options for patients. In the future, our hope is not only to overcome resistance but also to prevent it altogether, ultimately translating into longer periods of disease control and better outcomes for patients.’
How does this grant from FLASCO support your long-term research goals?
‘This grant from FLASCO, gives us the opportunity to think ahead about why treatments stop working and to transform that knowledge into opportunities for new tailored therapies. The long-term goal is to continue contributing to the development of more effective and less toxic treatments for patients with brain tumors.’
What advice would you give to other young investigators pursuing oncology research in Florida?
‘As a young investigator, you are usually full of ideas and motivation, but you need guidance to move in the right direction—that’s where mentorship becomes essential. I was very fortunate to find two excellent mentors in Dr. Macarena de la Fuente and Dr. Antonio Iavarone. My first advice would be to find a mentor with whom you feel comfortable and who is truly available to support you without limitations.’
In addition, we are fortunate in Florida to have local societies such as FLASCO, which are very supportive of Florida-based projects and continue to expand the resources available for young investigators.
For more information about FLASCO’s research initiatives and opportunities for young investigators, visit.”
More posts featuring Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.