Research Group Javad Nazarian

Keywords

Diffuse midline glioma, pediatric, Brain tumor, DIPG, DMG, Diffuse midline glioma

Summary & Mission statement

My research focuses on the molecular characterization and therapeutic targeting of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) and diffuse midline glioma (DMG) to develop precision medicine approaches for pediatric brain tumors.

Overview

Javad Nazarian’s research program focuses on improving outcomes for children with high-grade gliomas, particularly diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) and diffuse midline glioma (DMG)—devastating pediatric brain tumors with historically poor prognoses and limited treatment options. His work has significantly advanced the molecular and genomic characterization of these tumors, identifying key driver mutations such as H3K27M, and uncovering tumor subtypes that inform personalized treatment approaches.

Dr. Nazarian also leads the preclinical activities of DMG-ACT (Diffuse Midline Glioma – Adaptive Combinatorial Therapy) initiative, an international collaborative effort aimed at accelerating translational research and developing rational combination therapies tailored to tumor biology.

His research integrates cutting-edge technologies such as transcriptomics, epigenomics, and single-cell profiling to better understand tumor heterogeneity and treatment resistance. The overarching aim is to translate these findings into clinically actionable strategies, including molecular diagnostics and targeted therapies, ultimately improving survival and quality of life for affected children.