New release of Glioblastoma Cancer Atlas helps researchers

Robust new data added to the Ivy Glioblastoma Atlas Project (Ivy GAP) changes the scope and impact of this publicly available resource for researchers and clinicians searching for treatments for this most deadly and aggressive of brain cancers, glioblastoma multiforme. Led by researchers at the Allen Institute for Brain Science and Swedish Neuroscience Institute and funded with a grant from The Ben and Catherine Ivy Foundation, Ivy GAP includes detailed information about genes expressed in the various anatomical regions of glioblastoma and important data about the presumed initial cancer stem cells that lead to tumor formation.
"This atlas has been a long-term partnership to provide a public resource for researchers worldwide to mine the data and identify trends that may lead to further studies and treatments," says Allan Jones, Ph.D., CEO of the Allen Institute."Our ultimate goal is to change the outcome for patients with this devastating disease," says Ralph Puchalski, Ph.D., scientist at the Allen Institute for Brain Science and co-Principal Investigator on the project. "The Ivy Glioblastoma Atlas Project is an unprecedented platform for exploring the anatomic and genetic basis of glioblastoma at the cellular and molecular levels. The atlas is an anatomic tour de force that is sure to provide vital information into how such tumors grow and invade healthy brain tissue."
"The need for projects like the Ivy Glioblastoma Atlas Project is urgent," said Catherine Ivy, president of The Ben and Catherine Ivy Foundation. "If we can give our medical leaders better research tools, we can move closer to our ultimate goal of curing glioblastoma."