Manav Pathania

Dr. Manav Pathania is a Senior Lecturer and Group Leader at the University of Cambridge, affiliated with the Department of Oncology and the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. His research focuses on understanding the biology of pediatric brain tumors, particularly gliomas, and developing novel therapeutic approaches. As an Affiliated Principal Investigator at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, he leads research investigating heterogeneity and microenvironmental interactions in brain tumors and neural stem cells.

• Education: BA in Biology from Grinnell College; PhD in Cell Biology from Yale University
• Postdoctoral training: Professor Josef Kittler's lab at UCL (neurobiology of autism/schizophrenia genes); Professor Paolo Salomoni's lab at UCL Cancer Institute (pediatric glioma models)

Dr. Pathania's laboratory specializes in developing immune-competent models of gliomas using in utero or neonatal electroporation techniques. These models allow for CRISPR screening and single cell analyses to identify mutation-specific interactions between tumor cells and their microenvironment. His research aims to understand the interplay between genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity in different brain tumor types and identify targets for precision therapy development.

His publication record spans from 2010 to 2025, with a clear evolution from fundamental neuroscience to translational cancer biology. Recent work (2022-2025) focuses on oncohistone-mutant gliomas, immune landscapes, and subtype-specific therapeutic vulnerabilities, demonstrating his commitment to addressing critical challenges in pediatric neuro-oncology. His research has significant implications for developing precision therapies tailored to specific genetic alterations in individual tumors.

• Current affiliations: Children's Brain Tumour Centre of Excellence, CRUK Cambridge Centre
• Research focus: Pediatric high-grade glioma, histone mutations (H3K27M, H3G34), tumor heterogeneity, therapy resistance mechanisms

Dr. Pathania's laboratory is actively contributing to the development of newer, more refined models of gliomas that enable the identification of mutation-specific therapeutic targets, with the ultimate goal of improving outcomes for children with brain tumors.