Dr. Rani George

Biography

Rani George is a Professor in the Department of Pediatric Oncology at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, focusing her research on neuroblastoma, an embryonically derived pediatric tumor affecting the peripheral sympathetic nervous system. Her laboratory aims to identify molecular targets that can be translated into novel therapies for metastatic neuroblastoma and to unravel the genetic perturbations that occur during the development of the sympathetic nervous system to understand neuroblastoma initiation and progression. Her research has identified activating somatic mutations in the ALK tyrosine kinase receptor, which are sensitive to small molecule inhibitors. The lab is also investigating the mechanisms of ALK receptor activation and its regulation in disease, with the ultimate goal of developing strategies to inhibit ALK-driven pathways. Additional areas of focus include inhibiting deregulated MYCN, an oncogenic transcription factor amplified in high-risk neuroblastoma, and studying early perturbations in sympathetic neuronal development associated with mutant ALK PHOX2B. Rani's translational research program integrates cancer biology with pre-clinical drug development and clinical trials targeting molecular aberrations in neuroblastoma, informed by research findings to implement clinical trials aimed at treating relapsed neuroblastoma and solid tumors.

Research Interests