Human Brain Tumors: A Story of Molecules and Models

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

4:00 PM-5:30 PM

BIOMED Seminar

Title:
Human Brain Tumors: A Story of Molecules and Models

Speaker:
Atom Sarkar, MD/PhD
Global Neurosciences Institute, LLC
Drexel Neurosciences Institute
Drexel University College of Medicine
Department of Neurosurgery
Director of Stereotactic, Functional and Epilepsy Surgery


Details:
Glioblastoma Multiforme is fundamentally a relentless brain cancer. Despite decades of research, including complete DNA sequencing of these tumors, marked improvements in survival are still meager. This is in large part likely a consequence of the biology of this cancer–-which remains elusive, and its pathology fatal. A significant realization that cancer tumor stem cells lay at the heart of this disease offer a possible hope for additional, yet to be elaborated biologically based interventions. This presentation will highlight insights gained from my 12 years of tumor biology investigations.

Biosketch:
Atom Sarkar, MD/PhD, has always been an academic. My name stems from my father’s PhD thesis in electron scattering. A passion for solving complex problems led me to merge two professions – neurosurgery and biophysics. As a surgeon, I love to operate. Yet ironically, my strong belief with regards to the future of neurosurgery and medicine lies completely in the notion that more operating is not necessarily better. For instance, patients with malignant brain tumors don’t need more operations, which will ultimately fail; they need an innovative solution that couple surgery with neuroscience/biomedical engineering. Such a notion has lingered with me with since my days as an MD/PhD student.

The opportunity to join Global Neurosciences Institute and the Drexel Neurosciences Institute has led to calling Philadelphia home since January 2019. In the Department of Neurosurgery, at Drexel University College of Medicine, my primary role will be as Director of Stereotactic, Functional and Epilepsy Surgery. Additionally, establishing translational research relationships throughout the Drexel scientific community will be a high priority.

Contact Information

Ken Barbee
215-895-1335
barbee@drexel.edu