Carl Koschmann, MD

 Carl Koschmann, MD
ChadTough Defeat DIPG Research Professor of Pediatrics
Clinical Research Director of the Chad Carr Pediatric Brain Tumor Center
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Medical School
Available to mentor
Carl Koschmann, MD
Carl Koschmann, MD
Associate Professor
  • About
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  • Qualifications
  • Center Memberships
  • Research Overview
  • Recent Publications

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    • About

    Dr. Carl Koschmann is an Associate Professor with Tenure and the Chad Carr Pediatric Brain Tumor Center Research Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Michigan. He is also the Chad Carr Pediatric Brain Tumor Center Clinical Research Director and the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation Co-Scientific Director.

    Links
    • Lab Website
    • twitter

    Qualifications
    • MD
      University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, Madison, WI, United States
      2003 - 2007

    Center Memberships
    • Center Member
      Rogel Cancer Center

    Research Overview

    The Koschmann Lab investigates the molecular mechanisms by which mutations in pediatric high-grade glioma (pHGG), including diffuse midline glioma (DMG) and DIPG promote tumor growth and affect response to therapy. Our long-standing project on the role of ATRX in pHGG has uncovered its impact on cell cycle control and targeted therapeutics. This work led to the successful attainment of an NIH/NINDS K08 Award (2016-2021) and an NIH/NINDS R01 (2021-2026). Multiple publications have resulted from this project, including publications in Science Translational Medicine and Cancer Research.

    Additionally, the Koschmann Lab has established an intrauterine electroporation (IUE) model that is driven by pHGG drivers (e.g., H3F3A and PDGFRA), recently published in JCI. This model is the basis of translational studies supported by a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Cancer Translational Team Science Award (Co-PI, 2021-2026) and a second NIH/NINDS R01 (PI, 2022-2027) studying the efficacy and mechanism of ONC201 treatment in DMG, which was detailed in our recent manuscript in Cancer Discovery.

    Finally, Dr. Koschmann serves as the PI/Co-PI for multiple early phase studies in pHGG/DMG for which our lab performs analysis of correlate tumor and CSF samples, as detailed in recent manuscripts in Clinical Cancer Research and Neuro-Oncology.

    Recent Publications

     See All Publications
    • Journal Article
      Clinical Efficacy of ONC201 in H3K27M-Mutant Diffuse Midline Gliomas Is Driven by Disruption of Integrated Metabolic and Epigenetic Pathways.
      Venneti S, Kawakibi AR, Ji S, Waszak SM, Sweha SR, Mota M, Pun M, Deogharkar A, Chung C, Tarapore RS, Ramage S, Chi A, Wen PY, Arrillaga-Romany I, Batchelor TT, Butowski NA, Sumrall A, Shonka N, Harrison RA, de Groot J, Mehta M, Hall MD, Daghistani D, Cloughesy TF, Ellingson BM, Beccaria K, Varlet P, Kim MM, Umemura Y, Garton H, Franson A, Schwartz J, Jain R, Kachman M, Baum H, Burant CF, Mottl SL, Cartaxo RT, John V, Messinger D, Qin T, Peterson E, Sajjakulnukit P, Ravi K, Waugh A, Walling D, Ding Y, Xia Z, Schwendeman A, Hawes D, Yang F, Judkins AR, Wahl D, Lyssiotis CA, de la Nava D, Alonso MM, Eze A, Spitzer J, Schmidt SV, Duchatel RJ, Dun MD, Cain JE, Jiang L, Stopka SA, Baquer G, Regan MS, Filbin MG, Agar NYR, Zhao L, Kumar-Sinha C, Mody R, Chinnaiyan A, Kurokawa R, Pratt D, Yadav VN, Grill J, Kline C, Mueller S, Resnick A, Nazarian J, Allen JE, Odia Y, Gardner SL, Koschmann C. Cancer Discov, 2023 Nov 1; 13 (11): 2370 - 2393. DOI:10.1158/2159-8290.CD-23-0131
      PMID: PMC10618742
    • Proceeding / Abstract / Poster
      Combinatorial Targeting of Avapritinib-Driven MAP Kinase Activation in High-Grade Glioma
      Schwark K, Wink K, Miclea M, Patel T, Kong S, Stanczak S, Lau B, Cartaxo R, Messinger D, Doherty R, Ji S, Wadden J, Clausen M, Pearson A, de la Nava D, Goethe P, Momen F, Adam T, Hutchinson A, Niculcea M, Serhan H, Merrill N, Edmonds A, Mayr L, Neyazi S, Munoz D, Nuechterlein N, Calvo Fernandeza E, Califano A, Pavisic J, Garton H, Rao R, Upadhyaya S, Skrypek M, Bendel A, Lobbous M, Klawinski D, Meraiver S, Koptyra M, Resnick A, Nazarian J, Venneti S, Waszak S, Chavez L, Gojo J, Filbin M, Beck A, Coppe J-P, Koschmann C. 2026 Nov 12; 341 - 341.
    • Journal Article
      H3K27M enhances basal ATM signaling but is not required for radiosensitization of diffuse midline glioma via ATM inhibition with AZD1390.
      Peterson ER, Parsels LA, Li Z, Zhao X, Hess LD, Guo Y, Messinger D, Parsels JD, Wang Z, Qin T, Valvo VM, Franson AT, Castro MG, Yadav VN, Lawrence TS, Koschmann C, Zhang Q, Wahl DR, Morgan MA. Mol Cancer Ther, 2026 Jul 14; DOI:10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-24-1019
      PMID: 42444560
    • Journal Article
      ID #1110 Evolutionary history of dordaviprone-treated H3K27-altered diffuse midline glioma
      Subramaniam B, Feher F, Knowles T, Yadavilli S, Sunjoing J, Koschmann C, Mueller S, Nazarian J, Waszak S. Neuro-Oncology Pediatrics, 2026 Jun 25; 2 (Supplement_1): wuag026.499 DOI:10.1093/neuped/wuag026.499
    • Journal Article
      ID #510 Intraventricular delivery of IL13Rα2-targeting CAR T cells in pediatric and young adult patients with recurrent or refractory central nervous system tumors: results of a Phase 1 trial
      Wang L, Oill AT, Lindner S, Stiller T, Blanchard MS, Mudunuri R, Kilpatrick J, Stratman J, Hibbard J, Sepulveda S, Peter L, Chen D, Munoz M, Wagner J, Nisis M, Dolatabadi A, Gomez G, Natri H, Forman S, Ressler J, Arvanitis L, Campbell K, Cotter J, Richman S, D’Apuzzo M, Tamrazi B, Badie B, Read J, Upadhyaya S, Koschmann C, Davidson T, Banovich N, Brown C. Neuro-Oncology Pediatrics, 2026 Jun 25; 2 (Supplement_1): wuag026.186 DOI:10.1093/neuped/wuag026.186
    • Journal Article
      ID #666 Deciphering cellular sates associated with response to dordaviprone (ONC201) in diffuse midline glioma patients from the PNOC022 clinical trial
      Savary C, Vo T, Jackson E, Persson M, Douglas A, McEwen H, McLachlan T, Kline C, Franson A, Waszak S, Nazarian J, Koschmann C, Mueller S, Dun M. Neuro-Oncology Pediatrics, 2026 Jun 25; 2 (Supplement_1): wuag026.267 DOI:10.1093/neuped/wuag026.267
    • Presentation
      SNO Pediatric Fellowship Lecture Series, "Pediatric High-Grade Glioma"
      Koschmann C. 2026 Jul 8;
    • Preprint
      Oncohistone inhibition reshapes tumor–microenvironment communication in Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG)
      Khairkhah N, Ibrahim MMH, Galban SL, Faunce M, Rober L, baker C, Doherty R, Cartaxo R, Koschmann C, Zhao Y, Galban S. 2026 Jun 21; bioRxiv, DOI:10.64898/2026.06.17.731637

    Featured News & Stories
    Department News

    For Families Facing a Deadly Brain Cancer, Scientific Progress Can’t Come Soon Enough

    Researchers have made important strides in understanding and treating diffuse midline gliomas, which were long seen as a death sentence for the children and adolescents they affect.
    Department News

    Defying the Odds Through a Clinical Trial

    As part of the inaugural American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Pediatric Cancer Report for 2025, Dr. Carl Koschmann is featured in a new video highlighting the journey of a young patient diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma (DMG).
         Smiling portrait of Jack Fineske. He has short brown hair and is wearing a red sweater.
    Philanthropy News

    Catching Up With Jack

    Nonprofit organization Catching Up With Jack fuels leading-edge pediatric brain cancer research while honoring a journey of courage and faith.
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    Health Lab

    Brain cancer patient finds a way forward

    Sidney Ritchie’s aggressive brain cancer diagnosis has changed her life, and now, in her new reality, she finds meaning and purpose through connection, volunteering, and “showing up fully”
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    Health Lab

    FDA clears new DMG treatment: What it means for a deadly pediatric brain tumor

    Diffuse midline gliomas are aggressive tumors that begin in the brain or spinal cord. It is universally fatal, and patients typically live for nine to 15 months after diagnosis. The FDA has approved ONC201 (dordaviprone) to treat recurrent H3K27M-mutant diffuse glioma. It's the first-ever FDA-approved treatment for this disease.
         sepia tone photo off grey with band member in yellow and blue highlighted in middle
    Health Lab

    ‘Beating the odds’: hope for U-M drummer with inoperable brain tumor

    Ethan White was diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma, a rare form of brain cancer where the survival time after diagnosis is 1-2 years. His treatment is going well and Koschmann is cautiously optimistic about his case.