Case study: Discovering how meningioma brain tumours cause seizures

Meningiomas are tumours that grow from the lining of the brain, compressing and invading the brain itself. They cause seizures in up to 40% of patients, devastating their quality of life. Dr Ali Bakhsh, neurosurgeon-scientist and member of the Liverpool Neurosurgery Research Group, used the Spatial Profiling Lab to sequence the meningioma-brain interface, allowing the identification of pathophysiological mechanisms that will accelerate therapeutic strategies.

Research challenge and facility involvement

The GeoMx® Digital Spatial Profiler (DSP) at the Spatial Profiling Lab Shared Research Facility (SRF) enabled precise spatial molecular analysis of precious surgical tissue. Critically, as the assays used are non-destructive, the same tissue can be preserved for further analyses.

Dr Frances Greaney Davies, Spatial Profiling Lab Manager, processed patient samples and liaised with Dr Bakhsh to optimise clinical utility, and supported bioinformatic analysis.

Outcome and impact

The work conducted at the Spatial Profiling Lab SRF has led to the discovery of a novel mechanism, and it is now undergoing in vitro validation.

These results will be part of a wider program of work that integrates structural MRI analysis and genomic data integration towards drug testing. It is hoped that early, clinical-phase clinical trials will follow at The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust.

Quick details

Principal Investigator:	Dr Ali Bakhsh
Institution/Department:	Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology
Shared Research Facility used:	Spatial Profiling Lab
Instruments:	GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler
Publication/outputs:	National oral presentation at Transcription and Chromatin UK conference
Contact for Facility Access:	Dr Frances Greaney Davies