Dr. Maria G. Castro, R.C. Schneider Collegiate Professor of Neurosurgery at Michigan Medicine, is advancing the fight against deadly brain tumors with bold science and long-term vision. Supported by a 7-year, $4.5M NIH Javits Award, her research explores tumor biology, immune responses, and innovative therapeutic strategies with the goal of transforming malignant brain cancer into a manageable disease. By combining fundamental discovery with translational impact,…
Meet Ziwen Zhu, a Postdoctoral Fellow from Dr. Maria G. Castro’s Lab. 1. What motivated you to pursue postdoctoral training, and what led you to join the Castro Lab?After my doctoral work on pancreatic cancer metabolism, I wanted to tackle glioma—one of the most challenging malignancies. Dr. Castro’s expertise in glioma biology and her lab’s success in translating therapies to clinical trials aligned perfectly with…
We’re excited to share that Prof. Maria G. Castro from the UMich Medical School, Department of Neurosurgery, recently delivered an inspiring talk to the OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute)–UM community titled: “Advances in Cancer Immunotherapy: How Can We Reprogram Our Own Immune Systems to Fight Cancer.” Her lecture, part of OLLI-UM’s Thursday Lecture Series (Feb 5) on Biomedical Research and Technology, captivated both in-person attendees at the…
We’re thrilled to announce that Dr. Maria G. Castro has taken on two prestigious roles in the brain tumor research community: 1. Senior Director of Research for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation’s Research Advisory Network, where she will help advance innovative pediatric brain tumor research. 2. Chair of the Scientific Advisory Council at the American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA), guiding research programs, providing scientific expertise,…
The Rogel Cancer Center has awarded $125,000 (direct costs) for their Rogel Cancer Center Innovation Grant – Fall 2025 submission: “SAFE-ENGAGER: Specific Activation and Functional Engagement of vaccine-primed T cells via TCR-binding bispecific T cell engager for potent and safe immunotherapy.” The project is funded for 12/01/25 – 11/30/26. The Rogel Cancer Center congratulates Dr. Zhu and Dr. Castro on this recognition and is proud to…
Meet Dr. Maria Luisa Varela, a Postdoctoral Fellow from Dr. Pedro Lowenstein’s Lab. 1. What motivated you to pursue postdoctoral training, and what led you to join the Castro and Lowenstein Lab? During my PhD, I’ve studied different types of tumors. For my postdoctoral training, I wanted to work on a challenging pathology, as is glioblastoma. Dr. Lowenstein’s and Dr. Castro’s bench side to bedside research was the…
Dr. Maria G. Castro — R.C. Schneider Collegiate Professor of Neurosurgery and Professor of Cell & Developmental Biology at the University of Michigan, continues to make a global impact in cancer research and science communication. She served on the judging panel for the 2026 AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism, supporting excellence in reporting that brings cancer science to the public. Dr. Castro’s work exemplifies the intersection of cutting-edge research and…
On March 18, Dr. Daiana Perez-Visnuk, a postdoctoral fellow in the Lowenstein lab, presented “The neurotransmitter glutamate modulates collective cell dynamics and calcium signaling during isotropic–nematic–jamming transitions in glioma cancer cells, behaving as an active liquid crystal,” revealing how neurotransmitter signaling drives phase-like transitions in tumor cell collective behavior. Together, these presentations underscore the Lowenstein lab’s contributions to advancing active matter physics approaches in understanding…
At the APS Global Physics Summit 2026, work from the Dr. Pedro Lowenstein lab highlighted emerging links between physics and glioma tumor biology. On March 16, Dr. Anna Argento, who completed her PhD recently in the Lowenstein lab, presented “Glioblastoma Brain Tumors Organize as Active Nematic Liquid Crystals with Novel Implications,” demonstrating how glioblastoma can exhibit active nematic ordering with implications for tumor organization and…
At the J’ACTIVE WE-HERAEUS Workshop held in honor of Jacques Prost’s contributions to the physics–biology interface, Dr. Pedro Lowenstein presented a poster at Les Houches, France (March 9–13, 2026). The presentation, “The neurotransmitter glutamate modulates collective cell dynamics and calcium signaling during isotropic–nematic–jamming transitions in glioma cancer cells, behaving as an active liquid crystal,” highlighted how neurotransmitter signaling can regulate collective cancer cell behavior through…
