# Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells in Malignant Glioma

> **NIH NIH K08** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2020 · $170,748

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 This K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award proposal describes a 5-year
training program for the development of an academic career in neuro-oncology for Dr. Mahua Dey. At present,
Dr. Dey is a Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at Indiana University School of Medicine.
During her neurosurgery residency training at University of Chicago she spent two years in one of her co-
mentor, Dr. Lesniak's neuro-oncology laboratory studying the role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in malignant
glioma. To achieve full research independence, she has identified three key research objectives: (1) To gain
proficiency in advanced immunological research techniques, (2) To gain expertise in various transgenic mouse
models and (3) To gain proficiency in advanced molecular biology techniques and two key training objectives:
(1) Train in oral and written presentation of research findings, including grant preparation and (2) Develop
professional skills necessary for a successful academic career.
 The proposed K08 project will take place in the Department of Neurosurgery at the Indiana University
School of Medicine. This vigorous research environment at the IUSM includes ample access to immunology
core facility, histology, DNA core facility, microscopy resources and animal housing, and it nurtures an
expanding group of translational neuro-oncology researchers. The primary mentor, Dr. Randy Brutkiewicz, a
world renound NIH funded tumor immunologist and co-mentor, Dr. Maciej Lesniak, a productive and very well
funded neurosurgeon and neuro-oncology researcher, both have more than 10 years of experience with basic
immunology and neuro-oncology research and a very successful and established track record of mentoring
junior investigators. The candidate will also benefit from the local mentoring committee that collectively have
extensive experience in immunology, neuro-oncology, various transgenic mouse models as well as molecular
biology, and a strong track record of independent NIH funding and training young investigators.
 The research project focuses on defining the mechanisms of immunosuppression that renders targeted
immunotherapy ineffective in the setting of malignant glioma. This will be accomplished by studying the role of
two immunosuppressive cell population: pDCs and Tregs under the central hypothesis: MHC II restricted
antigen presentation by plasmacytoid dendritic cells induce Treg cells proliferation and contribute to glioma
immunosuppression. The completion of this proposed project will accomplish two important goals: (1) address
the well identified critical shortage of well-trained clinician scientists involved in translational research, and (2)
address the critical gap in understanding the role of CNS antigen presentation and failure of immunotherapy.
As a result the proposed plan will provide training and preliminary data to support an R01 application and allow
the applicant to establish a c...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9983172
- **Project number:** 5K08NS092895-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** Mahua Dey
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $170,748
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-11-05 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9983172

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9983172, Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells in Malignant Glioma (5K08NS092895-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9983172. Licensed CC0.

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