The BIBC team “BioInnovations in Motion” participated in the ABTA BT5K Run/Walk held on June 6, 2026 at Kensington Metropark, Milford, MI. The team joined hundreds of supporters at this community event organized by the American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA), coming together to raise awareness and show support for individuals and families affected by brain tumors. This participation reflects the team’s ongoing commitment to community…
Spotlight on Rising Scientists!
Meet Dr. Daiana Perez Visnuk, 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-Lowenstein Lab? I pursued postdoctoral training to expand my expertise at the interface of cancer biology, neuroscience, and biophysics, with the goal of understanding how brain tumors organize, communicate, and invade. I was drawn to the Castro-Lowenstein Lab…
Mia Zhong Awarded Prestigious 2026 IES Brain Research Foundation Summer Fellowship
Congratulations to Mia Zhong on being selected as a 2026 IES Brain Research Foundation Summer Fellow! As part of this prestigious fellowship, Mia will receive hands-on research training in the laboratory of Dr. Maria Castro at the University of Michigan Medical School during the summer of 2026. Her research project, “Genomic Instability: A New Immunological Target for Brain Cancer,” aims to investigate innovative therapeutic strategies for…
ASGCT 2025 Meeting Report Published in Molecular Therapy
The ASGCT 2025 Advancing Cell & Gene Therapies for Cancer symposium highlighted major progress in integrating oncolytic virotherapy, cellular immunotherapy, epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming of the tumor immune microenvironment, and synthetic gene engineering. A post-meeting report titled “2025 Advancing Cell and Gene Therapies for Cancer” has been published, highlighting key discussions and emerging directions from the meeting. The report, authored by Paola Grandi, Maria G.…
Castro Lab Review Article Accepted in JAMA Neurology
Publication Spotlight: Castro Lab Review Article Accepted in JAMA Neurology Congratulations to the Castro Lab on the acceptance of their review article, “Gene Delivery Platforms for Glioblastoma: Recent Advances and Future Prospects“ for publication in JAMA Neurology (2026). Authored by A. Haddad, R. Ramesh, J. Armando Peña Agudelo, C. Salha, P. Prakash, S. Aghi, J. Trippett, Maria G. Castro, and M. Aghi, this review summarizes adenoviral…
NCI R01 Awarded to Dr. Pedro Lowenstein
Congratulations to Dr. Pedro Lowenstein on receiving a 5-year NCI R01 grant titled: “Disruption of Collagen Extracellular Matrix Potentiates Anti-Glioma Immune Responses.” This highly competitive award supports innovative research aimed at understanding how modulation of the collagen-rich extracellular matrix can enhance anti-tumor immune responses in glioma. The grant also includes collaborative contributions from UMich investigators Drs. Maria Castro, Joerg Lahann, Joshua Welch, and Michelle L. Hastings, highlighting strong interdisciplinary partnerships…
Welcome to the lab
Please join us in welcoming our new undergraduate student that will be joining our lab during the summer and fall semesters. Ms. Kate Darrow (Summer 2026), Cancer Research Summer Internship Program (CaRSIP) Ms. Lori Campbell (Summer 2026),Undergraduate Research Academy (URA) Ms. Mia Song (Summer 2026), Irene & Eric Simon Brain Cancer Foundation (IES) Mr. Gurveer Chadha (Fall 2026), PIB/UPiN Independent Study Charlotte Kaufman (Fall 2026)
Expanding the Future of Brain Tumor Research
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,…
Spotlight on Rising Scientists!
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…
Spotlight on Brain Cancer Immunotherapy: Prof. Maria G. Castro at OLLI-UM
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…