 thanking Brain Foundation, its donors, staff and sponsors and scientific committee members for the privilege of receiving this research gift. I'm a cancer cell biologist and my group is currently working towards understanding the cellular and molecular pathways in brain cancers and how these can be exploited therapeutically. This project has specifically focuses on megaloblastoma, which is the most malignant brain cancer in children. Despite significant advances, advancement in the treatment of low-risk megaloblastoma, children with high-risk megaloblastoma show very low survival rates and are currently very few therapeutic options available, including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Due to the harsh nature of these treatments and the cancer itself, children who even survive the cancer often permanently suffer from cognitive, social and emotional disorders. There is therefore a clear need for new treatment options and is the aim of our research. Indeed, we have identified the gene that its expression is highly significant in megaloblastoma and specifically in high-risk megaloblastoma in children. This gene, which in other system have been shown to be a key regulator of metabolic pathways and stem cell features, is now currently under investigation in my lab. These features are also very important in cancer development, progression and invasiveness and resistance to therapies. The aim of this research is to understand how the role of this gene in megaloblastoma progression and metastasis and to assess if by its targeting we can control this cancer. The ultimate aim is to develop new therapeutic options which are targeted, more effective and with less side effects.