The AACR-Sontag Foundation Brain Cancer Research Fellowship represents a joint effort to encourage and support a postdoctoral or clinical research fellow to conduct brain cancer research and to establish a successful career path in this field. The proposed project may be basic, clinical, translational, or epidemiological in nature and must have direct applicability and relevance to brain cancer.

2025 Grantee

Scientific Statement of Research

More than 70% of childhood hemispheric ependymomas bear recurrent ZFTA-RELA fusions. Despite existing knowledge of the underlying molecular drivers, there are no effective treatments, targeted therapies, or clinical trials for ZFTA-RELA ependymomas. Previous unbiased metabolomic studies identified elevated itaconate production to be an important metabolic pathway in these cells. Dr. Natarajan aims to define molecular mechanisms of ZFTA-RELA fusion-driven itaconate metabolism and determine the therapeutic potential of inhibiting itaconate production in these tumors.

Biography

Dr. Natarajan received his doctoral degree in molecular and cellular pathology from the University of Michigan, studying how altered metabolism shapes the epigenetic landscape in posterior fossa ependymomas and IDH1-mutant gliomas. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan where his goal is to determine how itaconate, an immunomodulatory metabolite, is a central driver of aggressive, ZFTA-RELA fusion ependymomas.

Acknowledgement of Support

“My vision involves pursuing an academic career focused on cancer research. I aspire to merge my expertise in tumor immunology and metabolism to explore how tumor-derived metabolites promote aggressive pediatric brain tumors. The AACR-Sontag Foundation Brain Cancer Research Fellowship is a significant opportunity that will enrich my academic journey and provide a platform to learn from esteemed leaders in pediatric cancer biology. I am immensely honored and grateful to be a part of both AACR and the Sontag Foundation.”