Gerald Finnerty

gerald.finnerty@kcl.ac.uk

Website

Research Interests

My major interests are in brain tumours and neocortical circuitry. My lab has a background in neuroscience, which it brings to brain tumour research. We use live human brain tissue to study: the mechanisms underlying malignant progression of lower gradegliomas ; tumour – associated seizures and the mechanisms of neurotoxicity from cell chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells. I combine brain tumour research with a Consultant Neurologist post focusing on neuro-oncology. My clinical work is based in the Regional Neuro-oncology service at King’s College Hospital and Guy’s Hospital Cancer Centre. I have clinical research interests in CSF liquid biopsy and cell-free DNA to diagnosis brain tumours and neurological complications of CAR-T cell therapy

Most significant discovery

• Glioma hotspots are the seedbeds of malignant progression of lower-grade gliomas
• Rewiring of local cortical circuits and changes to synapse size contribute to
experience-dependent plasticity in the neocortex

Educational Interests

• Lead, Clinical Neurosciences Education and
Training, King’s Health Partners
• Program Lead, MSc Clinical Neuroscience

Top 4 Publications

1. Kirby AJ et al. (2021) Multicellular ‘hotspots’ harbour high-grade potential in adult lower-grade gliomas Neurooncol Adv 3(1):vdab026

2. Kirby AJ et al (2020) Ex vivo ultrasonic samples of human brain tumors in the molecular era. Neurooncol Adv 2(1):vdaa014

3. Albieri G et al (2015) Rapid bidirectional reorganization of cortical microcircuits. Cereb Cortex 25:3025-3035

4. Cheetham CE et al (2014) Pansynaptic enlargement of adult cortical connections strengthened by experience. Cereb Cortex 24:521-31

Methods / Expertise

• Live human brain tissue
• Electrophysiology
• Live cell imaging
• Neocortical circuitry