John R. Prensner

John R. Prensner is the Barry J. Glick Early Career Professor of Pediatric Oncology and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Biological Chemistry at the University of Michigan Medical School. He leads an independent research lab focused on pediatric brain tumors, specifically studying molecular mechanisms in medulloblastoma, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor, and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. His work emphasizes non-coding genome analysis, RNA biology, and translational research for novel therapies.

• Medical School Affiliations: Departments of Pediatrics and Biological Chemistry
• Center Memberships: Rogel Cancer Center and Center for Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics

Research interests include RNA translation regulation, non-canonical open reading frames, and community-driven genomic standardization. He holds multiple prestigious awards including the Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator Award (2023) and V Scholar Award (2024).

Funding sources include CureSearch for Children's Cancer, the V Foundation, and the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation. His lab collaborates internationally to advance understanding of RNA-based cancer mechanisms and therapeutic strategies.