Chibawanye Ene, A Nigerian-Born Doctor Wins ‘Brain Tumor Research’ Award in US

Chibawanye Ene, a Nigerian-born US-based doctor, has won the 2019 Ronald L. Bittner Award on brain tumor research.

A quarterly journal on cancer titled Applied Radiation Oncology stated that Ene received the award at the 2019 American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) annual scientific meeting which held from April 13 to April 17 in San Diego, US.

Ene who is presently 37, hails from Akpugo in Nkanu west local government area of Enugu state. He won the award with his research work titled: “Anti-PD-L1 Immunotherapy Enhances Radiation-induced Abscopal Response in Glioblastoma”.

Dr. Chibanwanye Ene

Glioblastoma, known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive form of cancer that can occur in the brain or spinal cord some of which its symptoms is reported to include headaches, personality changes, nausea, and symptoms similar to those of a stroke.

Immunotherapy for glioblastoma has been largely unsuccessful in part because molecular heterogeneity drives selective elimination of only a subset of tumour cells.

According to the journal, the molecular structure of the tumor found in that form of cancer only allows few of the cancerous cells to be eliminated during treatment.

Promise for better treatment options was shown in the new findings in Ene's research, which revealed that “radiation combined with Anti PD L1 therapy induces an immunological response to unirradiated glioblastoma”

The Journal further revealed that the:

The researchers are currently optimizing other treatment combinations that could also be readily assessed in phase I human clinical trials.

About Ronald L. Bittner Award

The Ronald Bittner Award is endowed by Mrs. E. Laurie Bittner in memory of her husband, Ronald L. Bittner. It is awarded to the Best Abstract Paper submitted to the AANS meeting on Brain Tumor Research by a Resident or Junior Faculty Member. This award includes a $1000 honorarium.