Research boost for childhood cancer at the University 91̽»¨
Tanmoy Mondal has been awarded a senior childhood cancer research position from the Swedish Childhood Cancer Fund, providing him with full funding for six years. With deepened knowledge of the role of RNA modifications in neuroblastoma, he aims to pave the way for new treatments against one of the most aggressive forms of childhood cancer.
"This is a fantastic opportunity to build on our research and take the next step toward understanding and treating high-risk neuroblastoma," says Tanmoy Mondal, researcher at the Institute of Biomedicine at the University 91̽»¨.
His project aims to uncover how specific changes in RNA affect disease development – and how these mechanisms can be used as targets for future drugs.
"Our previous studies show that RNA modifications play a central role in tumor development. For example, we have shown that it is possible to slow down tumor growth by inhibiting these processes in preclinical models," he explains.
More targeted treatment
Tanmoy Mondal has extensive experience in neuroblastoma research. After completing his doctoral studies in Uppsala, he came to Gothenburg as a postdoctoral researcher in 2012 and has since built his own research group, focusing on RNA modifications and their role in cancer. Neuroblastoma, which affects the peripheral nervous system in young children, is a rare form of cancer, but in its most aggressive form, it is one of the deadliest types of childhood cancer.
"I am convinced that RNA modifications can not only contribute to a better understanding of the disease's onset but also help us develop more precise and effective treatments," says Tanmoy Mondal.
With the new grant, he now plans to expand his research group and deepen the work of identifying RNA-modification based biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
"The long-term funding gives us both stability and room for action. It is crucial for us to be able to conduct research that truly makes a difference for children with cancer."