# CHARACTERIZATION OF SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN GLIOMA METABOLISM

> **NIH NIH R00** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $248,998

## Abstract

Project Summary
 The goal of this NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award is to establish myself as an independent
investigator in the field of metabolic imaging of gliomas. My research plan leverages my existing knowledge of
cancer metabolism with new training and experience in glioma research, specifically as it pertains to sex
differences in glioma tumorigenesis. Specifically, I will define how interactions between sex and common
glioma driver mutations as regulators of glucose metabolism impact on glioma phenotype and to determine
what the developmental origins are for sex differences in glucose metabolism.
 After having received my undergraduate degree from Cornell University, I matriculated to the Medical
Scientist Training Program at Washington University. My thesis focused on prostate neuroendocrine (NE)
cancer metabolism, integrating expression profiling and analytical chemistry techniques to identify enriched
metabolic features of high grade NE cancers. When I returned to medical training, my clinical interests focused
on diagnostic radiology. As a future physician-scientist, I felt that a research career in oncologic imaging would
represent an ideal combination of my research and clinical interests.
 My interest in imaging research led me to stay at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology at Washington
University in St. Louis for training in a clinical diagnostic radiology residency program at Washington University.
Following residency, I trained in a one year clinical Body MRI fellowship with a focus on oncologic imaging.
During this training, I developed an interest in merging molecular imaging and cancer metabolism to identify
new ways to stratify cancer patients and develop new treatment options for them.
 To date, my clinical training has provided a broad understanding of anatomic imaging techniques. On the
other hand, my research training has helped establish a framework to understand cancer metabolism and the
techniques used to study it. The goal of the next phase of my career is to develop a bridge between these two
areas, developing expertise in brain tumor biology and small animal imaging to understand mechanisms
underlying sex differences in brain tumorigenesis and metabolism.
 I have developed a training plan that culls the strengths of the Department of Radiology and the Siteman
Cancer Center at Washington University to supply the necessary infrastructure of expertise and advanced
technologies. For the K99 portion of my award, I will be housed in the laboratory of my mentor, Dr. Joshua
Rubin, an expert in the field of sex differences in cancer. There, I will gain experience in the theory and
techniques required to study brain tumor biology. This will be supplemented with coursework, seminars, and
meetings to enhance my training that will provide a solid foundation for a future career that integrates cancer
metabolism and imaging. I will also engage in didactic training in the design of translational research through
the ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9985752
- **Project number:** 5R00CA218869-04
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Joseph Edward Ippolito
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $248,998
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-09 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9985752

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9985752, CHARACTERIZATION OF SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN GLIOMA METABOLISM (5R00CA218869-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9985752. Licensed CC0.

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