The Children's Tumor Foundation
03/02/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/02/2026 08:59
Young Investigator: Q&A with Libby Williams on Targeted Treatments for NF2-Related Meningiomas
The Young Investigator Award (YIA) provides two-year salary support to early-career NF researchers to help them get established as independent NF investigators and pursue bold, innovative projects designed to improve care and uncover new treatments for people living with NF. Since its inception, several YIAs have made groundbreaking research findings and notable publications through this program, and many have advanced to become leaders in the NF research and clinical communities.
We're pleased to introduce some of these researchers from the latest class of awardees: Libby Williams, (University of Plymouth, England), whose YIA-funded study is focused on understanding how a specific protein may drive the growth of meningiomas in people with NF2-SWN, with the goal of identifying more targeted and effective treatment options.
A person wearing a white lab coat stands in a brightly lit laboratory with scientific equipment and supplies in the background.
What are you hoping to discover through this project?
The main aim of this project is to find out how an enzyme called ALDH1A3 controls the growth and development of NF2-mutant meningiomas, and to test the efficacy of ALDH1A3-inhibiting drug treatments in pre-clinical models of these tumors.
What first drew you to study NF and/or what continues to inspire your work?
My work in this field is continuously inspired by the advocacy of patients, their families, and organisations like the Children's Tumor Foundation who work tirelessly to campaign for NF awareness and research funding. I am also hugely motivated by the hard work of other researchers in this field, who are working towards the same goal of finding new ways of improving care and treatment for NF patients.
What does a typical day in the lab look like for you?
I tend to start my day with a cup of coffee in the office, where I work on admin tasks, emails, and review my experimental plans for the day and week ahead. With my to-do list set, I head into the lab to begin my lab work. This is different for me every day, but regular tasks typically include cell culture, western blots, cell and tissue staining, and fluorescence microscopy. I try to run experiments in parallel as much as I can, so I'm usually managing a few different tasks at the same time. Towards the end of the day, I make sure everything is set up in the lab for the next day, and return to my desk to analyse and document any new data gathered, read any newly published research in the field, and work on other office-based tasks like writing for grants and publications and preparing presentations for internal lab meetings or conferences.
What does it mean to you to receive this support from the Children's Tumor Foundation?
I am hugely grateful for the support of the Children's Tumor Foundation Young Investigator Award, as it has enabled me to stay in the field of NF and meningioma research following my PhD in the same topic, which I am really passionate about. This post-doctoral project allows me to further pursue the research commenced in my PhD, and gives me the opportunity to develop my career and transition towards being an independent research leader in the NF field.
How do you like to spend your time outside the lab?
At home, I like to spend my time drawing, reading, and playing video games. On a nice day, I like to get out and explore historical sites like castles and ruins. Having fulfilling rest time helps me feel energised and positive for lab work.
Click here to learn more about funding opportunities, including the Young Investigator Awards, from the Children's Tumor Foundation.
The Children's Tumor Foundation published this content on March 02, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 02, 2026 at 14:59 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]