Dr. Valerie Castle received her bachelor's degree from McGill University in Montreal and her medical degree from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. She completed a fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology at the University of Michigan in 1990 and joined the U-M faculty the same year. Dr. Castle currently serves as the chair for the Department of Pediatrics. Her research focuses almost exclusively on the pediatric solid tumor, neuroblastoma. She is specifically interested in mechanisms of chemotherapy and radiation resistance as well as studies on the control of neuroblastoma invasion and metastases. Dr. Castle's research interests are complemented by her clinical interest, which is also in the malignancy of neuroblastoma. She is a member of the National Cancer Coalition and has participated on the Advisory Committee for the development of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines for the clinical treatment of neuro-blastoma. Dr. Castle has received many honors and awards, including the Best Doctors in America Award and the U-M Health System Commitment to Excellence Award.