Brandon Wainwright

Professor Brandon Wainwright AM is Co-Director of the Children's Brain Cancer Centre at the Frazer Institute, University of Queensland, with a joint appointment at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience. His research focuses on genetic pathways in pediatric brain tumors, particularly medulloblastoma, where he discovered the role of the Hedgehog pathway in human cancer. His laboratory employs molecular genetics approaches to identify disease-causing genes.

Research interests span cancer genetics, molecular oncology, and therapeutic target discovery. Recent work investigates neurodevelopmental gene mutations (ELP1/ELP2), tumor microenvironment interactions, and pharmacogenomics for brain cancer treatment. His group utilizes spatial transcriptomics, liquid biopsies, and patient-derived xenograft models to advance translational research.

Publications demonstrate consistent focus on molecular mechanisms of brain tumors, with recent emphasis on neurodevelopmental aspects of medulloblastoma, therapeutic resistance mechanisms, and clinical translation. Collaborative work includes multinational studies on pediatric cancer clinical trials.