Michael McNicholas

Research Interests

Diffuse midline glioma (DMG) is one of the most aggressive and incurable paediatric brain tumours, where despite decades of clinical trials, survival outcomes remain unchanged. A key feature of these tumours is their cellular heterogeneity — distinct populations of tumour cells with different transcriptional identities that may respond differently to treatment. My research investigates how this clonal diversity contributes to treatment resistance. Using models developed in our lab which faithfully recapitulate human DMG, I employ genetic barcoding in combination with genomics techniques to identify programmes of treatment resistance. Through this work, I aim to identify the cellular and spatial determinants of treatment resistance and uncover vulnerabilities that could be exploited therapeutically.

Background

I graduated with a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Surrey, where I undertook a research-intensive undergraduate degree spanning several projects. These included investigating the DNA damage response in cancer cell lines with Lisiane Meira at Surrey, and exploring the role of the opioid system and G-protein coupled receptors in addiction and associative learning in Brigitte Kieffer's lab at McGill University. Following this, I joined the Pathania Lab as a Research Assistant, before transitioning into my current PhD studies.