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
      Feasibility of Using Real-Time Sequencing to Validate Somatic Variants and Copy Number Events for Novel Genetically Engineered Models
      Momen F, Clausen M, Adam T, Wadden J, Doherty R, Schwark K, Messinger D, Nand Yadav V, Koschmann C. University of Michigan Undergraduate Research Journal, 2026 Mar 18; 18: DOI:10.3998/umurj.9821
    • Journal Article
      Dordaviprone for Diffuse Midline Glioma: A Landmark Approval or a Premature Step?
      Khasraw M, Dun MD, Arrillaga-Romany I, Verhaak RGW, Bouffet E, Hansford JR, Singh K, Mueller S, Koschmann C, Wen PY. Neuro Oncol, 2026 May 22; DOI:10.1093/neuonc/noag117
      PMID: 42172613
    • Journal Article
      Co-targeting CDK4/6 and MEK reverses mesenchymal transition in therapy-refractory BRAF-altered pediatric high-grade glioma.
      Mayr L, Mager L, Gabler-Pamer L, Kirchhofer D, Freund J, Schwark K, Lau B, Machreich S, Senfter D, Neumüller M, Lang A, Madlener S, Laemmerer A, Bruckner K, Jaunecker CN, Robl B, Walter R, Schueler J, Peyrl A, Azizi AA, Dorfer C, Roessler K, Spiegl-Kreinecker S, Haberler C, Federico A, Gopisetty A, Schleiermacher G, Pfister SM, Geoerger B, Chesler L, Vassal G, Kool M, Müllauer L, Koschmann C, Berger W, Gojo J, Lötsch D. J Exp Clin Cancer Res, 2026 May 16; DOI:10.1186/s13046-026-03725-3
      PMID: 42143334
    • Presentation
      Precision Approaches to Pediatric Brain Tumors: Therapeutically Targeting EGFR and Monitoring Response Through Liquid Biopsy
      Koschmann C. 2026 Apr 20;
    • Journal Article
      Abstract 2834: Identification of CXCL10-CXCR3 axes as mediators of radioresistance in diffuse midline glioma (DMG)
      Ibrahim MM, Khairkhah N, Koschmann C, Zhao Y, Galban S. Cancer Research, 2026 Apr 5; 86 (7_Supplement): 2834 - 2834. DOI:10.1158/1538-7445.am2026-2834
    • Journal Article
      Abstract 3285: Itaconate acts as an oncometabolite to drive lethal pediatric ependymomas
      Natarajan SK, Lum J, Haggerty-Skeans J, Nenwani M, Eyunni S, Mota M, Bayliss J, Deogharkar A, Hamanishi E, Hoffman S, Young E, Zhang Q, Mehta R, Parolia A, Sajjakulnukit P, Doherty R, Koschmann C, Chinnaiyan AM, Lyssiotis CA, Nagrath D, Venneti S. Cancer Research, 2026 Apr 5; 86 (7_Supplement): 3285 - 3285. DOI:10.1158/1538-7445.am2026-3285

    Featured News & Stories
    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.
         women close up of face semi-smiling in green shirt short hair brown
    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”
         brain scan on computer
    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.
         xray brain images on repeat and person pointing with pointer
    Health Lab

    Re-purposed FDA-approved drug could help treat high-grade glioma

    Avapritinib, an FDA-approved drug used to treat other types of cancer, also decreases aggressive gliomas in animal models and in an initial cohort of patients with high-grade glioma.