Annie A. Huang , MD, PhD, FRCP(C)
The Hospital for Sick Children
Staff Oncologist, Paediatric Brain Tumour Program
Haematology/Oncology
Research Institute
Scientist
Cell Biology
Principal Investigator
The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre
University of Toronto
Assistant Professor
Department of Paediatrics
Phone: 416-813-7360 or 416-946-2000 ext. 51
Fax: 416-813-8024
e-mail: annie.huang@sickkids.ca
For more information, visit:
Brief Biography
Dr. Annie Huang was appointed to the Paediatric Brain Tumour Program, Division of Haematology/Oncology in July, 2002 as a Clinician Scientist. Dr. Huang received her PhD and MD degrees from the University of Toronto in 1993 and 1995 respectively. Following residency training in medical genetics and paediatrics at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Dr. Huang completed fellowship training in paediatric haematology/oncology at The Hospital for Sick Children (1999-2000) and a post-doctoral fellowship at the Ontario Cancer Institute, Princess Margaret Hospital (2001-2002).
Clinical Care Activities
- Novel therapies for infant brain tumour
- Supra-tentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumours
Academic Background
Paediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship
The Hospital for Sick Children, 1999-07-01 - 2001-07-01
Research Interests
- Molecular pathogenesis of malignant paediatric brain tumours
- Role of Myc proteins in medulloblastoma PNET pathogenesis
Research Activities
Brain tumours, the most common solid malignancies of childhood, differ from other solid malignancies in that brain tumours rarely metastasize outside of the central nervous system. Despite this relatively “restricted” pattern of progression, metastatic brain tumours are therapy resistant. Due to the devastating consequences of the best current treatment which includes radiation of the developing brain, there is much interest in elucidating molecular pathways that specify metastatic behaviour in malignant paediatric brain tumours in order to ultimately develop more effective and less toxic treatments for such tumours.
Our lab is interested in cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie tumour progression in central nervous system primitive neuroectodermal tumours (PNET), the most frequent group of paediatric malignant brain tumours. Current projects involve use of high resolution genomic tools to define novel genes and pathways associated with aggressive PNET phenotypes.
In addition, a major focus in the lab is on elucidating the role of c-Myc, a potent oncoprotein linked to aggressive medulloblastoma PNET. To investigate the molecular basis of this association we have focused on identifying Myc protein interactors and target genes with key contributions to Myc function in medulloblastoma cells. Our recent work identified a novel family of Myc interacting and co-transforming proteins, the JPO proteins, which are overexpressed in metastatic medulloblastoma. Characterization of the function of JPO proteins and other identified novel Myc partners/targets, in medulloblastoma PNET pathogenesis is the focus of ongoing work.
External Funding
- National Cancer Institute of Canada
- The Brain Tumor Society
Achievements
- 2005 - LIMA International Award for Excellence in Pediatric Brain Tumor Research
- 2001-2003 Canadian Institute of Health Research/Medical Research Council of Canada Post-Doctoral Fellowship Award
Publications
Huang A, Ho CS, Ponzielli R, Barsyte-Lovejoy D, Bouffet E, Picard D, Hawkins CE, Penn LZ. Identification of a novel c-Myc protein interactor, JPO2, with transforming activity in medulloblastoma cells. Cancer Res. 2005 Jul 1;65(13):5607-19.