Dey Lab

02/27/2026

Glioblastomas are one of the most common, yet most aggressive, forms of brain cancer. Unfortunately, treatment options are limited and patients usually die within a few years of diagnosis. Brain cancers are more difficult to access and less prevalent than other cancers, leading to less research and fewer therapeutic developments.

Dr. Mahua Dey is hoping to fill this gap. She’s developing a vaccine that trains the immune system to fight new growth of glioblastoma. This treatment would be given after tumor removal surgery with the goal of stopping the cancer from returning. This is particularly important for glioblastoma, which has a nearly 100% recurrence rate because it is impossible to completely remove all the microscopic disease with surgery.

“One of the biggest issues with brain cancer is that no matter what we do, it always comes back,” Dr. Dey says. “We can't stop you from getting a brain tumor at this time, but once you have one, we can train your immune cells to kill it before it's ready to become a tumor again.”

Her lab creates the vaccine using a patient’s own tumor cells, which are genetically modified to create an immune memory boosting signal that helps the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.

02/22/2026

“We can’t stop you from getting a brain tumor yet, but we can train your immune cells to kill it before it becomes a tumor again.” …..

Big things are happening at
We are developing a vaccine that uses your own tumor tissue to fight back against brain cancer recurrence.
In preclinical testing, the results were incredible: a 100% tumor response rate.
Next stop? FDA clinical trials. 🚀
Check out the full article at the link! ⬆️

Dr. Mahua Dey, a UW Health neurosurgeon, is developing cancer vaccines, using a patient’s own tumor cells, to prevent recurrence of glioblastoma.

01/28/2026

🧠 Does age change how we fight brain cancer?
New insights on immunotherapy & glioblastoma
🔥 Hot off the press!
Our latest study in takes on a critical—and often overlooked—question in glioblastoma (GBM):
👉 What happens when immunotherapy meets the aging immune system?
🧬 Why this matters
Immunotherapy works by training your own immune system to attack cancer.
But as we age, our immune system changes (immunosenescence). GBM is more common in older adults—yet most clinical trials focus on younger patients.
🤔 The big question
Does immunotherapy work the same way across ages?
🔍 What we found
By analyzing data across multiple studies (a meta-analysis), we discovered that an aging immune system creates a different tumor environment—one that can make it harder for current immunotherapies to fully activate immune cells.
💡 The takeaway
Immunotherapy isn’t failing older patients—but a one-size-fits-all approach may be. Different immune ages may need different strategies.
🚀 Looking ahead
This is a call to design smarter, age-aware clinical trials—so breakthroughs benefit everyone, not just the young.
🧠 To beat brain cancer, we must treat the tumor and the person it’s in.
Personalized care starts with understanding the immune system—at every age. 💪🧬
👏 Huge congratulations to all the co-authors!

Immunotherapy has yet to meaningfully translate to more complex solid tumors, such as Glioblastoma (GBM), which is a disease of old age with a median diagn

01/13/2026

🔬New Publication in Nature Portfolio led by Elliot, Lingxin and Jack Shireman
🧠🧬 We can read thousands of genes in a single cell…
but still struggle to explain what that cell actually is.
That gap is now one of the biggest barriers to turning data into patient care.
So we built CASSIA.
CASSIA is an AI system that works more like a clinical team than a black box.
Multiple AI agents analyze cell data, challenge each other, and—most importantly—explain their decisions.
Why this matters ⬇️
In cancer, immunotherapy, and neuro-oncology, identifying therapy-resistant tumor cells or critical immune populations can change how we:
• design treatments
• predict recurrence
• move discoveries toward patients
AI that’s accurate but not interpretable isn’t enough.
Our goal isn’t to replace scientists and clinicians. It is to scale expertise, reduce bias, and make single-cell biology usable—not mysterious.
🔬 If AI is going to belong in medicine, it must be transparent and trustworthy.
We believe CASSIA is a step in that direction. What would make you trust AI in clinical decision-making?

Assigning cell types in single-cell RNA-seq is essential yet challenging, as it requires expertise, time, and is often subjective. Here, the authors present CASSIA, a multi-agent AI system that provides automated, interpretable, and quality-controlled annotations with high accuracy.

12/31/2025

As 2025 comes to a close, we’re grateful for a year of growth, discovery, and teamwork in the Dey Lab.
From advancing neuro-oncology research to mentoring the next generation of scientists, our work is driven by one purpose: making a meaningful difference for patients with brain tumors.
Thank you to our incredible trainees, collaborators, and patients who inspire us every day. We’re excited to keep pushing forward—together.
Onward to a new year of science, impact, and hope ✨

11/27/2025

At Dey lab, we're thankful for our patients' trust during life's toughest moments, scientists pushing boundaries for breakthroughs, students bringing fresh ideas & optimism, and our supporters who fuel our mission to conquer brain cancer. Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! We're grateful for your support!

10/31/2025

We had a fantastic morning learning about the latest updates from national leaders in brain and spine metastasis. We're truly grateful to all our speakers for sharing their valuable time and expertise to make this symposium a success! Thanks to everyone who joined us for this event!

10/09/2025

Looking forward to a great Tumor section meeting!! Thanks Costas G. Hadjipanayis for putting together an amazing program!! Excited to learn about all great science and innovation driving the field of surgical Neuro-oncology!!

08/21/2025

One of my founding missions for establishing Dey Lab was to cultivate, inspire and empower next generation of physicians, surgeons and scientists. I am proud to say that all members of Dey lab take this mission very seriously and we create a graduated pipeline of mentorship and success. So, when I get a letter like this, it really makes my heart sing and makes me feel like a proud parent!!!
🌟 Huge shoutout to Jack Shireman (My graduate Student) for his incredible dedication to the UWCCC ARISE (Advancing Research in Science with Excellence) program over the past several summers!
Through his mentorship in the Dey Lab, Jack has inspired high school interns and undergraduate students by:
🔬 Introducing them to brain cancer research
🤝 Creating a welcoming, supportive environment
💡 Building their confidence and skills in the lab
📈 Guiding them to take ownership of science and their projects
Right before my eyes Jack is growing up to be an excellent scientist and also a role model whose passion, patience, and encouragement empower the next generation of scientists. Future of science is bright!!!

08/08/2025

Kudos to Ora for completing the SCORE program at UWCCC and spending the summer immersed in brain cancer research at Dey Lab! Your perseverance and passion are inspiring. We're thrilled to see the amazing impact you'll make after undergrad!

08/07/2025

Congratulations Nina for spending the summer with us at Dey Lab and finishing UWCCC ARISE program!!! This competitive program selects outstanding high school students who are interested in pursuing science 🧫 as a career path!! We are so proud of all your hard work during this summer and look forward to follow all your accomplishments in the near future!!!

07/16/2025

On Glioblastoma Awareness Day, let's talk about why awareness is so crucial.

We at Dey Lab work hard EVERYDAY with one goal: finding a cure for GBM. However, Glioblastoma is a formidable opponent and every bit of awareness fuels the fight.
Your understanding and support directly contribute to:
Accelerating our vital research for new therapies.
Empowering advocacy for better patient care.
Shining a light on an urgent unmet medical need.

Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those battling GBM.