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…

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 a prestigious role in the brain tumor research community: Senior Director of Research for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation’s Research Advisory Network, where she will help advance innovative pediatric brain tumor research.

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…