Overview
Background
Laura Genovesi is a Cure Brain Cancer Foundation Research Fellow within the Paediatric Brain Cancer Laboratory headed by Professor Brandon Wainwright.
Dr Genovesi is a cancer biologist specialising in in vivo pre-clinical models to dissect the mechanisms underpinning growth of medulloblastoma, a paediatric brain tumour. They were awarded their PhD in 2012 (University of Western Australia), where they studied the role of microRNAs in the transformation of human neural stem cells to Medulloblastoma. They relocated to the University of Queensland to commence her post-doctoral studies in the laboratory of Prof. Brandon Wainwright. Dr Genovesi's post-doctoral research focuses on discovering and targeting the genetic networks that drive medulloblastoma. Their work has contributed to defining regulatory networks underlying the growth of medulloblastoma and the therapeutic application of CDK4/6 inhibitors in the treatment of medulloblastoma. Most recently, her work has characterised the status of the blood brain barrier in some of the most widely used patient derived orthotopic xenograft models of medulloblastoma. Dr Laura Genovesi’s research is now focused on understanding the intrinsic and adaptive plasticity of tumour cells and acellular components of the brain tumour microenvironment (TME) that drive tumour progression and determine response to therapy. Their research integrates integrates diverse preclinical model systems including patient-derived in vivo models and dynamic ex vivo 3D hydrogel models with innovative spatial transcriptomics/ imaging and advanced computational cancer biology aiming to ultimately to improve the lives of children diagnosed with brain tumours.
Availability
- Dr Laura Genovesi is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), Murdoch University
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Western Australia
Research impacts
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality and morbidity in children. Survival rates have not significantly changed for thirty years and survivors are faced with lifelong side effects from their treatments including cognitive decline, developmental defects and other cancers. Additionally, few effective therapies are available for patients with high-risk disease, such as those with MYC- amplified Group 3 (Gp3) MB. New targeted therapies are urgently needed for children diagnosed with medulloblastoma; to increase survival rates and improve quality of life for children diagnosed with this disease. Dr Genovesi's research has made significant strides in this area, generating a genetic map to find new pathways that are driving aggressive forms of this disease. Using this map, two existing classes of drugs apprved for breast cancer have been repurposed and identified as effective therapies for this disease. One of these classes of drugs is currently in clinical trial for children diagnosed with a range of brain tumours, with data from this project confirming these agents have an even greater effect when combined with standard therapy for children diagnosed with this disease. Outcomes from this research program can be used to support the next phase of clinical trials for these agents, with the inclusion of this new targeted therapy into standard of care aiming to result in greater survival rates for patients diagnosed with this disease.
Works
Search Professor Laura Genovesi’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
Conference Publication
Uncovering Dynamic Changes In Medulloblastoma Associated Vasculature In Zebrafish
Morris, Elysse, Daignault-Mill, Sheena, Ju, Robert J., da Silva, Jason, Gordon, Emma, Wainwright, Brandon, Stehbens, Samantha, Genovesi, Laura and Lagendijk, Anne (2023). Uncovering Dynamic Changes In Medulloblastoma Associated Vasculature In Zebrafish. 2023 Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Research Conference, Washington, DC United States, 22-24 June 2023. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noad073.274
2023
Journal Article
Spatial transcriptomic analysis of Sonic hedgehog medulloblastoma identifies that the loss of heterogeneity and promotion of differentiation underlies the response to CDK4/6 inhibition
Vo, Tuan, Balderson, Brad, Jones, Kahli, Ni, Guiyan, Crawford, Joanna, Millar, Amanda, Tolson, Elissa, Singleton, Matthew, Kojic, Marija, Robertson, Thomas, Walters, Shaun, Mulay, Onkar, Bhuva, Dharmesh D., Davis, Melissa J., Wainwright, Brandon J., Nguyen, Quan and Genovesi, Laura A. (2023). Spatial transcriptomic analysis of Sonic hedgehog medulloblastoma identifies that the loss of heterogeneity and promotion of differentiation underlies the response to CDK4/6 inhibition. Genome Medicine, 15 (1) 29, 29. doi: 10.1186/s13073-023-01185-4
2023
Conference Publication
Applying spatial omics and computational integrative analyses to study drug responses and cancer immune cell interactions
Tan, Xiao, Causer, Andrew, Vo, Tuan Quang Anh, Ma, Ning, Cheikh, Bassem Ben, Genovesi, Laura, Gonzalez-Cruz, Jazmina, Nguyen, Quan and Braubach, Oliver (2023). Applying spatial omics and computational integrative analyses to study drug responses and cancer immune cell interactions. AACR Annual Meeting 2023, Orlando, FL United States, 14-19 April 2023. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2023-4703
2023
Journal Article
Addressing blood-brain-tumor-barrier heterogeneity in pediatric brain tumors with innovative preclinical models
Morris, Elysse K., Daignault-Mill, Sheena, Stehbens, Samantha J., Genovesi, Laura A. and Lagendijk, Anne K. (2023). Addressing blood-brain-tumor-barrier heterogeneity in pediatric brain tumors with innovative preclinical models. Frontiers in Oncology, 13 1101522, 1-9. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1101522
2022
Conference Publication
MEDB-06. Spatial transcriptomic analysis of Sonic Hedgehog Medulloblastoma identifies that loss of heterogeneity and induced differentiation underlies the response to CDK4/6 inhibition
Vo, Tuan, Balderson, Brad, Jones, Kahli, Crawford, Joanna, Millar, Amanda, Tolson, Elissa, Ruitenberg, Marc, Robertson, Thomas, Bhuva, Dharmesh, Davis, Melissa, Wainwright, Brandon, Nguyen, Quan and Genovesi, Laura (2022). MEDB-06. Spatial transcriptomic analysis of Sonic Hedgehog Medulloblastoma identifies that loss of heterogeneity and induced differentiation underlies the response to CDK4/6 inhibition. International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, Hamburg, Germany, 12–15 June 2022. Cary, NC, United States: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noac079.381
2021
Journal Article
SOX9 defines distinct populations of cells in SHH medulloblastoma but is not required for Math1-driven tumour formation
Adolphe, Christelle, Millar, Amanda, Kojic, Marija, Barkauskas, Deborah S., Sundstrom, Anders, Swartling, Fredrik J., Hediyeh-zadeh, Soroor, Tan, Chin Wee, Davis, Melissa J., Genovesi, Laura A. and Wainwright, Brandon J. (2021). SOX9 defines distinct populations of cells in SHH medulloblastoma but is not required for Math1-driven tumour formation. Molecular Cancer Research, 19 (11), 1831-1839. doi: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-21-0117
2021
Journal Article
Systems pharmacogenomics identifies novel targets and clinically actionable therapeutics for medulloblastoma
Genovesi, Laura A., Millar, Amanda, Tolson, Elissa, Singleton, Matthew, Hassall, Emily, Kojic, Marija, Brighi, Caterina, Girard, Emily, Andradas, Clara, Kuchibhotla, Mani, Bhuva, Dharmesh D., Endersby, Raelene, Gottardo, Nicholas G., Bernard, Anne, Adolphe, Christelle, Olson, James M., Taylor, Michael D., Davis, Melissa J. and Wainwright, Brandon J. (2021). Systems pharmacogenomics identifies novel targets and clinically actionable therapeutics for medulloblastoma. Genome Medicine, 13 (1) 103, 103. doi: 10.1186/s13073-021-00920-z
2021
Journal Article
Elp2 mutations perturb the epitranscriptome and lead to a complex neurodevelopmental phenotype
Kojic, Marija, Gawda, Tomasz, Gaik, Monika, Begg, Alexander, Salerno-Kochan, Anna, Kurniawan, Nyoman D., Jones, Alun, Drożdżyk, Katarzyna, Kościelniak, Anna, Chramiec-Głąbik, Andrzej, Hediyeh-Zadeh, Soroor, Kasherman, Maria, Shim, Woo Jun, Sinniah, Enakshi, Genovesi, Laura A., Abrahamsen, Rannvá K., Fenger, Christina D., Madsen, Camilla G., Cohen, Julie S., Fatemi, Ali, Stark, Zornitza, Lunke, Sebastian, Lee, Joy, Hansen, Jonas K., Boxill, Martin F., Keren, Boris, Marey, Isabelle, Saenz, Margarita S., Brown, Kathleen ... Wainwright, Brandon J. (2021). Elp2 mutations perturb the epitranscriptome and lead to a complex neurodevelopmental phenotype. Nature Communications, 12 (1) 2678, 2678. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-22888-5
2021
Journal Article
Genetic and functional interaction network analysis reveals global enrichment of regulatory T cell genes influencing basal cell carcinoma susceptibility
Adolphe, Christelle, Xue, Angli, Fard, Atefeh Taherian, Genovesi, Laura A., Yang, Jian and Wainwright, Brandon J. (2021). Genetic and functional interaction network analysis reveals global enrichment of regulatory T cell genes influencing basal cell carcinoma susceptibility. Genome Medicine, 13 (1) 19, 19. doi: 10.1186/s13073-021-00827-9
2020
Journal Article
Patient derived orthotopic xenograft models of Medulloblastoma lack a functional blood brain barrier
Genovesi, Laura A., Puttick, Simon, Millar, Amanda, Kojic, Marija, Ji, Pengxiang, Lagendijk, Anne K., Brighi, Caterina, Bonder, Claudine S, Adolphe, Christelle and Wainwright, Brandon J. (2020). Patient derived orthotopic xenograft models of Medulloblastoma lack a functional blood brain barrier. Neuro-Oncology, 23 (5), 732-742. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noaa266
2020
Journal Article
Comparative study of preclinical mouse models of high-grade glioma for nanomedicine research: the importance of reproducing blood-brain barrier heterogeneity
Brighi, Caterina, Reid, Lee, Genovesi, Laura A., Kojic, Marija, Millar, Amanda, Bruce, Zara, White, Alison L., Day, Bryan W., Rose, Stephen, Whittaker, Andrew K. and Puttick, Simon (2020). Comparative study of preclinical mouse models of high-grade glioma for nanomedicine research: the importance of reproducing blood-brain barrier heterogeneity. Theranostics, 10 (14), 6361-6371. doi: 10.7150/thno.46468
2020
Journal Article
MR-guided focused ultrasound increases antibody delivery to nonenhancing high-grade glioma
Brighi, Caterina, Reid, Lee, White, Alison L., Genovesi, Laura A., Kojic, Marija, Millar, Amanda, Bruce, Zara, Day, Bryan W., Rose, Stephen, Whittaker, Andrew K. and Puttick, Simon (2020). MR-guided focused ultrasound increases antibody delivery to nonenhancing high-grade glioma. Neuro-Oncology Advances, 2 (1) vdaa030, 1-12. doi: 10.1093/noajnl/vdaa030
2018
Journal Article
Elongator mutation in mice induces neurodegeneration and ataxia-like behavior
Kojic, Marija, Gaik, Monika, Kiska, Bence, Salerno-Kochan, Anna, Hunt, Sarah, Tedoldi, Angelo, Mureev, Sergey, Jones, Alun, Whittle, Belinda, Genovesi, Laura A., Adolphe, Christelle, Brown, Darren L., Stow, Jennifer L., Alexandrov, Kirill, Sah, Pankaj, Glatt, Sebastian and Wainwright, Brandon J. (2018). Elongator mutation in mice induces neurodegeneration and ataxia-like behavior. Nature Communications, 9 (1) 3195, 3195. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-05765-6
2017
Journal Article
Inhibition of CDK4/6 by palbociclib significantly extends survival in medulloblastoma patient-derived xenograft mouse models
Sangar, Michelle L. Cook, Genovesi, Laura A., Nakamoto, Madison W., Davis, Melissa J., Knobluagh, Sue E., Ji, Pengxiang, Millar, Amanda, Wainwright, Brandon J. and Olson, James M. (2017). Inhibition of CDK4/6 by palbociclib significantly extends survival in medulloblastoma patient-derived xenograft mouse models. Clinical Cancer Research, 23 (19), 5802-5813. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-16-2943
2016
Conference Publication
Targeting Apoptosis as a Novel Therapy for Myc-Driven Medulloblastoma
Ji, Pengxiang, Genovesi, Laura, He, Yaowu, Hooper, John and Wainwright, Brandon (2016). Targeting Apoptosis as a Novel Therapy for Myc-Driven Medulloblastoma. 17th International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology (ISPNO), Liverpool England, 12-15 June 2016. United States: Oxford University Press.
2015
Journal Article
Nuclear factor one transcription factors: divergent functions in developmental versus adult stem cell populations
Harris, Lachlan, Genovesi, Laura A., Gronostajski, Richard M., Wainwright, Brandon J. and Piper, Michael (2015). Nuclear factor one transcription factors: divergent functions in developmental versus adult stem cell populations. Developmental Dynamics, 244 (3), 227-238. doi: 10.1002/dvdy.24182
2014
Conference Publication
Mouse Functional Genomics to Predict Novel Drug Targets for All Subgroups of Medulloblastoma
Genovesi, Laura, Ji, Pengxiang, Davis, Melissa, Ching Ging Ng, Remke, Marc, Taylor, Michael, Cho, Yoon-Jae, Jenkins, Nancy, Copeland, Neil and Wainwright, Brandon (2014). Mouse Functional Genomics to Predict Novel Drug Targets for All Subgroups of Medulloblastoma. 16th International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology (ISPNO), Singapore, Singapore, 28 June - 02 July 2014. Cary, NC United States: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/nou074
2013
Journal Article
Sleeping Beauty mutagenesis in a mouse medulloblastoma model defines networks that discriminate between human molecular subgroups
Genovesi, Laura A., Ng, Ching Ging, Davis, Melissa J., Remke, Marc, Taylor, Michael D., Adams, David J., Rust, Alistair G., Ward, Jerrold M., Ban, Kenneth H., Jenkins, Nancy A., Copeland, Neal G. and Wainwright, Brandon J. (2013). Sleeping Beauty mutagenesis in a mouse medulloblastoma model defines networks that discriminate between human molecular subgroups. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 110 (46), E4325-E4334. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1318639110
2012
Journal Article
Identification of suitable endogenous control genes for microRNA expression profiling of childhood medulloblastoma and human neural stem cells
Genovesi, Laura A., Anderson, Denise, Carter, Kim W., Giles, Keith M. and Dallas, Peter B. (2012). Identification of suitable endogenous control genes for microRNA expression profiling of childhood medulloblastoma and human neural stem cells. BMC Research Notes, 5 (1) 507, 507.1-507.12. doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-5-507
2011
Journal Article
Integrated analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression in childhood Medulloblastoma compared with neural stem cells
Genovesi, Laura A., Carter, Kim W., Gottardo, Nicholas G., Giles, Keith M. and Dallas, Peter B. (2011). Integrated analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression in childhood Medulloblastoma compared with neural stem cells. PLoS One, 6 (9) e23935, e23935.1-e23935.12. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023935
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Laura Genovesi is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation into network-defined novel targeted therapies for medulloblastoma
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brandon Wainwright
-
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation into network-defined novel targeted therapies for medulloblastoma
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brandon Wainwright
-
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the role of the blood vasculature in Medulloblastoma progression using zebrafish models
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Emma Gordon, Dr Anne Lagendijk
-
Doctor Philosophy
Spatial transcriptomics and Single-cell Interaction Analysis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Laura Grice, Dr Jian Zeng, Dr Quan Nguyen
Completed supervision
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Applying Spatial Multi-omics to Identify Cells and Regulators Driving Cancer Progression and Drug Response
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Quan Nguyen
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Targeting Apoptosis as A Novel Therapy for Medulloblastoma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor John Hooper, Professor Brandon Wainwright
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic Regulation of Development and Disorders of the Cerebellum
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brandon Wainwright
Media
Enquiries
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