Dr. Raju directs the Laboratory for Pediatric Brain Tumor Research at ISMMS and studies the developmental origins of pediatric brain tumors with a particular focus on medulloblastoma and its relationship to developmental signal transduction pathways. Through the utilization of sophisticated mouse genetics techniques, Dr. Raju and his team are creating new and improved preclinical mouse models of these childhood brain tumors to better understand their biology, investigate novel treatment approaches, as well as identify treatment resistance mechanisms that can be translated back for use in patients in order to improve their outcomes. Dr. Raju's research program has received support from the NIH/NINDS, NIH/NICHD, Department of Defense (DOD), STARR Cancer Consortium, St. Baldrick's Foundation for Childhood Cancer, Hartwell Foundation for Pediatric Research, American Brain Tumor Association, Unravel Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Hyundai Hope on Wheels Foundation, and Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research.