Mahua Dey Lab

We are a clinical research laboratory studying immune response to malignant brain and spinal cord tumors. Our mission is to develop successful immunotherapies for these devastating illnesses. We are also committed to train next generations of neurosurgeons, scientists, and medical students. Dey Lab Group

Malignant Brain Tumor Immunology Translational Research Laboratory

Research Overview

We investigate primary and metastatic brain tumors in adults utilizing both patient samples and mouse models in order to understand how to better utilize immunotherapy as a treatment option. As a lab, we utilize state of the art techniques such as next generation sequencing, single cell flow cytometry, optical microscopy, as well as cellular and molecular immunology and neuroscience. Our primary goal is to translate our science from bench to bedside in the form of clinical trials that can challenge the current standards of care for brain tumors.

Research Interests

T-Cell Senescence

T cell senescence can be induced by several factors including aging, telomere damage, tumor-associated stress, and the present of regulatory T cells. In comparison to activated effector T cells, T cell anergy, exhaustion, and senescence can be distinguished by their unique expression, or lack of expression, of surface receptors as well as different levels of intracellular cytokines, such as CD-28, IL-2, KLRG-1, LAG-3, PD-1. As a lab we want to understand the complex role immune cell senescence plays in the treatment of brain tumors as well as how to overcome the typical senescence seen in the aging immune system.

Radiation Induced changes in Metastatic Brain tumors

Metastasis to the brain involves four major steps: Detachment of the metastatic cell from the primary cancer, survival in systemic circulation, invasion into the brain parenchyma, and survival in the CNS microenvironment. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has emerged as a common adjuvant modality used with surgery for resectable brain metastases (BMs), however, recurrence of the tumor is still common. We aim to understand through genomics and bioinformatics how SRS changes the molecular profile of these tumor cells in order to better understand why the tumors recur.

Epigenetic modification of Immune Cells

Epigenetics is the study of changes in gene activity that persist following cell division but do not involve alteration of the DNA nucleotide sequence. Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications, and chromatin structure regulation are critical for the interactions between tumor and immune cells. Emerging evidence shows that tumors commonly hijack various epigenetic mechanisms to escape immune surveillance. As a lab we want to understand how epigenetic modifications in immune cell populations are changing the phenotype of immune cells and hampering their ability to respond to the tumor.

Tumor Vaccines

One area of therapeutics our laboratory is especially interested in is tumor vaccines. Tumor vaccines rely on a priming of a patient’s own immune system to boost its ability to recognize and attack the brain tumor. We are engaged in development of both personalized neoantigen based tumor vaccines as well as novel Fusokine based immune system boosting vaccines. We conduct this research using a combination of in vivo animal modeling as well as in silico computational modeling combined with next generation sequencing and machine learning. The goal of this tumor vaccine development is a more personalized arm of treatment that can be combined with surgery and chemo/radiotherapy to increase patient survival.

LM Project

Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM), characterized by tumor cells spread over the meninges lining the brain and spinal cord and shed into the surrounding cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), commonly occurs in advanced breast cancer. LM is rapidly fatal due to poor detection and limited therapeutic options, with a median survival of 3 to 5 months. External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) targeting the whole brain and intrathecal space of the spine (craniospinal radiation) is the primary treatment for most patients with LM. However, limited success is observed due to non-sufficient effect and severe radiotoxicities. Recent developments with targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) demonstrate great promise in specifically delivering therapeutic radiation doses to cancer and metastases while minimizing off-target tissue toxicity. Our lab aim to apply targeted radionuclide in LM in order to enable enhanced survival and reduced neurological toxicity.

Malignant Brain Tumor Immunology Translational Research Laboratory

Current Lab Members

Principal Investigator	Mahua Dey, MD Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery Director of Surgical Neuro-Oncology Program E-mail: dey@neurosurgery.wisc.eduDr. Mahua Dey, MD, is an assistant professor of neurological surgery and director of surgical neuro-oncology program at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Dey specializes in surgical management of both benign and malignant brain and spinal cord tumors, including gliomas, meningiomas, acoustic tumors, pituitary tumors, metastatic brain cancer, and other skull base tumors.
Scientist	Lei Zhao Research Scientist Email: lzhao73@wisc.eduLei grew up in Tianjin China and received his PhD from Beihang University, Beijing China. Before joining UW-Madison, he had research experience as a research associate at the Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Science. His main research interests include: epigenetics, neuroscience and tumor biology. He is currently working on 1. Deciphering the role of DNA methylation in T-cell plasticity; 2. Studying the role of senescent T-cells in GBM. Outside of research, he likes soccer, hiking and music.
Graduate Student	Jack Shireman Graduate Student (Neuroscience Training Program) Email: Jshireman@wisc.eduJack grew up in Fond du Lac WI and did his undergrad training at UW graduating with a B.S. in Neurobiology. He then moved to Chicago and worked for 3 years in the Ahmed lab at Northwestern in the Department of Neurosurgery. At NW he broadly aimed to understand how GBM develops resistance to Temozolomide using both molecular biological and bioinformatic techniques. During his PhD work Jack is interested in focusing on using large patient datasets to try to better understand or predict which treatments for GBM will be best suited for patients. His main research interests include: bioinformatics and data science, translational animal modeling, clinical trial design, and therapeutic resistance.When not in the lab Jack enjoys spending time with friends in and around Madison, running, golfing, and travel.
Lab Support	Xiaohu Wang Lab Manager/Sr. Research Specialist Email: wang@neurosurgery.wisc.eduXiaohu grew up in Beijing, P.R. China. He received his B.S. in Biology from Beijing Normal University in China and his M.S. from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He joined the Dr. Dey lab in September 2020. Before working at the University of Wisconsin, Xiaohu has more than 20 years of working experience both in the pharmaceutical industry as well as in academia. His research expertise includes and not limited to drug development and validation, animal model development, cell culture, and molecular assays. His current research interests include primary brain tumor and mechanisms of metastasis associated immunotherapy. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, tennis, and exercising.

Students

	Taylor Crnkovich: A junior at UW-Madison majoring in Neurobiology and obtaining certificates in Global Health as well as Gender and Women’s Studies on a pre-medical track. Joined Dr. Dey’s Lab in September 2023.		Neel Mukherjee: A freshman at UW-Madison majoring in Neurobiology on the pre-medical track. Joined Dr. Dey’s Lab in June 2023.
	Cheyenne Schepp is a junior at UW Madison majoring in global health emphasizing in disease biology on the track to earning a phd in cancer biology. Joined Dr. Deys lab in May 2024.		Yilong Tao: A sophomore at MATC studying chemistry and computer science on the pre-med track. Joined Dr. Dey’s lab in June 2024. He is particularly interested in studying new brain tumor therapy on GBM versus standard health care.
	Mona Iskandar : A sophomore at UW-Madison majoring in Neurobiology on the pre-medical track. Joined Dey lab fall of 2024.

Lab Alumni

Lab staff

- Marpe Bam, Ph. D. Research Scientist.
- Montse. Lara Velazquez M.D. Ph. D. Research Scientist.
- Phillip Kubica, MD. Research Fellow.
- Mario Henriquez. Lab Manager.

Research Fellows

- Wei Huff, M.D., Ph. D. Research Fellow.
- Dr. Anna Filley, M.D. Research Fellow.
- Kaleigh Fetcko, M.D. Research Fellow.
- Gina Monaco, M.D., Ph.D. Research Fellow.
- Shawn Damodharan, DO. Research Fellow.

Students

- Krista Nichole Brackman: Medical Student.
- Brooke Williamsen: Undergraduate Student.
- Seema Siraj: Undergraduate Student.
- Alex Abbott: Undergraduate Student.
- Miranda Graves: Undergraduate Student.
- Skyler Her: High School Student training.
- Dr. Adam Leibold. Medical Student.
- Dr. Teresa Easwaren. Medical Student.
- Dr. Nehal Ninad. Medical Student.
- Hajeung Leo Song. Medical Student.
- Sharlé Newman. Medical Student.
- Jae Hyun Kwon. Medical Student.
- Mariana Hoyos. Medical Student.
- Bailey Rigg. Undergraduate Student.
- Nikita Gonugunta. Undergraduate Student.
- Emily Distler: Undergraduate Student.
- Sanil Partha: Pre-med High School.
- Liam McCarthy: Undergraduate Student.
- Varshitha Kasulabada: Undergraduate Student.
- Ella Prasad: Undergraduate Student.
- Akshita Pattnaik: Undergraduate Student.
- Samantha Probelsky: Undergraduate Student.
- Kaitlyn Kellar: Undergraduate Student.
- Marli Knox: Undergraduate Student.
- Caelan Wright: Graduate Student (CMP Program)

Malignant Brain Tumor Immunology Translational Research Laboratory

Dey Lab Current Presentations

Pubmed Link

Kunbica PA, Henriquez MA, Das R, Galipeau J, Dey M. GIFT-7 Fusion Cytokine Promotes T-Cell Activation in an in Vitro Murine Model of Glioma. Neurosurgery Research Day Poster, Oct 2020.
Henriquez MA, Wei X, Huff MD, Kwon JH, Fetcko K, Dey M. Aging and Tumor Related Immune Senescence Imposes a Strong Barrier to Success of Immunotherapy in Glioblastoma. Neurosurgery Research Day Poster, Oct 2020.
Shireman JM, Huff WX, Monaco G, Agrawal N, Watson G, Dey M. Effect of Pre-Operative Stereotactic Radiosurgery on Brain Metastasis: Analysis of DNA and RNA Genomic Profiles from Phase-II Clinical Trial NCT03398694. Society for Neuro Oncology Basic and Translational Omics of Brain Tumors and Their Microenvironment, Virtual Presentation July 15-16, 2021.
Wang X, Shireman JM, Bam M, Das R, Galipeau J and Dey M. Systemic GIFT7 treatment augments age related thymic decline and improves survival in a tumor vaccination model of GBM. Neurosurgery Research Day Poster, Oct 2021.
Shireman JM, Wang X, Das R, Galipeau J, Dey M. Systemic GIFT7 treatment augments age related thymic decline and improves survival in a tumor vaccination model of GBM. Cancer: Aging in the Drivers Seat Keystone Symposium, Virtual Presentation March 27-30, 2022.
Damodharan SN & Dey M. Highly Multiplexed Digital Spatial Profiling of the Tumor Environment of Pediatric and Adult Diffuse Midline Glioma, H3 K27-altered. International Society for Pediatric Neuro Oncology Annual Meeting Poster Session, Hamburg, Germany June 2022.
Graves M, Damodharan SN, Dey M. Highly Multiplexed Digital Spatial Profiling of Pediatric and Adult Diffuse Midline Glioma, H3 K27-altered. University of Wisconsin Medical Scientist Training Program Summer Scholars Student Oral Presentation, University of Wisconsin-Madison Aug 2022.
Her S, Shireman JM, Dey M. Increased Dendritic Cell Inflammasome Formation Following Stimulation with FusokineGift7. Carbone Cancer Trainee Summer Student Oral Presentation, University of Wisconsin-Madison Aug 2022.
Shireman JM, Ammanuel S, Eickhoff J, Dey M. Sexual Dimorphism of the Human Immune System Predicts Clinical Outcomes in Glioblastoma Immunotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Neuroscience Training Program ReconnectomeOral Presentation, University of Wisconsin-Madison September 2022.
Shireman JM, Wang X, Das R, Galipeau J, Dey M. Gift7 Peripheral Vaccination Augments Age Related Thymic Decline and Improves Survival in a Tumor Vaccination Model of GBM. Society for Neuro Oncology Annual Meeting Poster Session, Tampa Bay Convention Center November 2022.
Shireman JM, Huff WX, Monaco G, Agrawal N, Watson G, Dey M. Effect of Pre-Operative Stereotactic Radiosurgery on Brain Metastasis: Analysis of DNA and RNA Genomic Profiles from Phase-II Clinical Trial NCT03398694. Society for Neuro Oncology Annual Meeting Poster Session, Tampa Bay Convention Center November 2022.
Shireman JM, Ammanuel S, Eickhoff J, Dey M. Sexual Dimorphism of the Human Immune System Predicts Clinical Outcomes in Glioblastoma Immunotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Society for Neuro Oncology Annual Meeting Poster Session, Tampa Bay Convention Center November 2022.
Damodharan SN & Dey M. Highly Multiplexed Digital Spatial Profiling of the Tumor Environment of Pediatric and Adult Diffuse Midline Glioma, H3 K27-altered. Society for Neuro Oncology Annual Meeting Poster Session, Tampa Bay Convention Center November 2022.
Shireman J, Gonugunta N, Pattnaik A, Wang X, Das R, Galipeau J, and Dey M GIFT-7 Vaccination Augments Thymic Atrophy and Improves Survival in Glioblastoma; Departments of Neurological Surgery1 and Medical Oncology2, University of Wisconsin-Madison Presented at SNO 2023
Shireman J, White Q, Huff W, Monaco G, Agrawal N, Wang X, Watson G, and Dey M Effect of Pre-Operative Stereotactic Radiosurgery on Brain Metastasis: Analysis of DNA and RNA Genomic Profiles from Phase-II Clinical trial NCT03398694; Departments of Neurological Surgery (UW-Madison1 and Indiana University2) and Radiation Oncology (Indiana University3) Presented at SNO 2023

Malignant Brain Tumor Immunology Translational Research Laboratory

Dey Lab Activities

UW–Madison Science Expeditions – 2025

UW Science Expeditions is was event that you can come to UW-Madison – your public university – and experience science on April 4-6th. Interact with researchers, visit dozens of science venues across campus, enjoy Science Spectacular Shows, and try your hand at interactive Exploration Stations. From astronomy to zoology, UW Science Expeditions is the annual campus-wide science open house that connects you to UW people & places all year round.

In the 608: UW-Madison Science Expeditions this weekend | Features | channel3000.com

Next generation embarks on science expedition at UW-Madison