The University of Texas at Arlington today opened a new $6.2 million Clinical Research Imaging Center (CIRC). Featuring a 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging machine (MRI), the new 3,500-square-foot research center will advance research aimed at unlocking the body’s greatest mysteries.

Neuroblastoma (NB), the most prevalent extracranial solid tumor in children, poses a significant therapeutic challenge due to its metastasis and high heterogeneity. A recent study leveraging single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has uncovered vital molecular mechanisms underlying NB's progression and metastasis, shedding light on potential therapeutic targets. The research analyzed primary tumors and matched metastases from NB patients, revealing a 'starter' subpopulation of tumor cells responsible for initiating metastasis. By applying various analytical approaches, including evolutionary trajectory analysis and cell-state differentiation prediction, the study delineated the transcriptional landscape of NB and identified a signature associated with poor prognosis.