Email

tamra.ogilvie@bcm.edu

Positions

Professor

Department of Pediatrics
Section of Hematology-Oncology
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas

Member

Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center

Education

Postdoctoral Fellowship at McMaster University

Hamilton, Ontario Canada

PhD from McGill University

Montreal, Quebec Canada

BSc from Western University

London, Ontario Canada

Professional Statement

Dr. Tamra Ogilvie's laboratory is entirely dedicated to studying medulloblastoma (MB), the most common malignant primary pediatric brain tumor. The lab has made significant contributions to the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating MB stem cell fate decisions. This includes identification of MB cells of origin (Nature, 2022), central regulators of MB self-renewal (ie. Nature, 2022; Nature Communications, 2020, Molecular Oncology, 2018) and potential diagnostic biomarkers for different MB molecular subgroups (i.e., Cancer Research, 2018).

Dr. Ogilvie's lab utilizes biologically relevant mouse xenograft models where human MB cells are implanted into the cerebellum to assess the effects of gain/loss of gene function as well as small molecule inhibitors as potential therapeutics (Cancer Research, 2018, Molecular Oncology, 2018, Communications Biology, 2022, Cell Death Discovery, 2023). Combining multi-omics technologies such as ChIP sequencing, RNA sequencing, single cell RNA sequencing, TurboID and digital spatial profiling of brain tumor tissue with functional assessments both in vitro and in vivo, Dr. Ogilvie has built a highly innovative research program in neuro-oncology and human stem cells.

Dr. Ogilvie's work integrates basic and preclinical studies and is currently divided into 2 major research areas: 1) Novel regulators of Group 3 MB cell fate and 2) New therapeutic strategies for SHH MB tumors. Throughout her career, she has been continuously supported by national and international funding agencies, including grants from the Canada Research Chairs program, CIHR, NSERC, the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada, as well as the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

Websites

Selected Publications

• Martell E, Kuzmychova H, Kaul E, Senthil H, Chowdhury SR, Morrison LC, Fresnoza A, Zagozewski J, Venugopal C, Anderson CM, Singh SK, Banerji V, Werbowetski-Ogilvie TE, Sharif T. "Metabolism-based targeting of MYC via MPC-SOD2 axis-mediated oxidation promotes cellular differentiation in group 3 medulloblastoma." Nat Commun.; Pubmed PMID: 37130865
• Hendrikse LD, Haldipur P, Saulnier O, […] Doble, BW, Werbowetski-Ogilvie TE*, Millen K*, Suzuki H*, Taylor MD*. * indicates co-senior authorship. "Failure of human rhombic lip differentiation underlies medulloblastoma formation." Nature.; Pubmed PMID: 36131014
• Zagozewski J, Borlase S, Guppy BJ, Coudière-Morrison L, Shahriary GM, Gordon V, Liang L, Cheng S, Porter CJ, Kelley R, Hawkins C, Chan JA, Liang Y, Gong J, Nör C, Saulnier O, Wechsler-Reya RJ, Ramaswamy V, Werbowetski-Ogilvie TE. "Combined MEK and JAK/STAT3 pathway inhibition effectively decreases SHH medulloblastoma tumor progression." Commun Biol.; Pubmed PMID: 35835937
• Werbowetski-Ogilvie TE. "From sorting to sequencing in the molecular era: the evolution of the cancer stem cell model in medulloblastoma." FEBS J.; Pubmed PMID: 33714236