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Javad Nazarian Javad Nazarian
Adjunct Associate Professor of Pediatrics

Office Phone: 202-476-5000
Email: Email
Department: Pediatrics

Education

  • B.S., Florida State University, 1998
  • MS, George Washington University, 2000
  • PhD, George Washington University, 2005

Biography

I am an investigator at the Center for Genetic Medicine in Children’s National Medical Center, Washington D.C. and as an assistant professor in Integrative Systems Biology at the George Washington University. I received my Ph.D. from the George Washington University in Genetic in 2005. My dissertation research involved molecular profiling of neuromuscular junctions using laser capture microdissection. My postdoctoral research involved using the torpedo electric fish as a model to understand the protein makeup of human electric synapses. My second postdoctoral research involved protein profiling of pediatric brainstem tumors.  

My laboratory has been involved in establishing in vivo models of brainstem gliomas as well as generating the molecular profile of the disease. These include proteomics, genomics, microRNA and mRNA profiles. My multidisciplinary research team includes members from Neurosurgery, Neurology, Oncology and Research departments. The team’s ongoing research involves characterizing in vivo and in vitro models of brainstem gliomas, developing nanoparticles-mediated strategies for specific targeting of tumor cells, and assessment of non-hormonal steroids for treatment of pediatric brain tumors.

Bibliography

  • Miller, L., J. Nazarian and P. Gilmer (1999). "Web-based technology in a constructivist community of learners. British Journal of Educational Technology." Journal of Educational Technology 30(1): 65-68.
     
  • Nazarian, J., K. Bouri and E. P. Hoffman (2005). "Intracellular expression profiling by laser capture microdissection: three novel components of the neuromuscular junction." Physiol Genomics 21(1): 70-80.
     
  • Nazarian, J., Y. Hathout, A. Vertes and E. P. Hoffman (2007). "The proteome survey of an electricity-generating organ (Torpedo californica electric organ)." Proteomics 7(4): 617-27.
     
  • Maletkovic, J., R. Schiffmann, J. R. Gorospe, E. S. Gordon, M. Mintz, E. P. Hoffman, G. Alper, D. R. Lynch, B. S. Singhal, C. Harding, H. Amartino, C. M. Brown, A. Chan, D. Renaud, M. Geraghty, L. Jensen, N. Senbil, N. Kadom, J. Nazarian, F. Yuanjian, W. Zuyi, T. Hartka, H. Morizono and A. Vanderver (2008). "Genetic and clinical heterogeneity in eIF2B-related disorder." J Child Neurol 23(2): 205-15.
     
  • Nazarian, J., M. Santi, Y. Hathout and T. J. MacDonald (2008). "Protein profiling of formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue: Identification of potential biomarkers for pediatric brainstem glioma." Proteomics - Clinical Applications 2(6): 915-924. Corresponding Author
     
  • Sripadi, P., J. Nazarian, Y. Hathout, E. P. Hoffman and A. Vertes (2009). "In vitro analysis of metabolites from the untreated tissue of Torpedo californica electric organ by mid-infrared laser ablation electrospray ionization mass spectrometry." Metabolomics 5: 263–276.
     
  • Becher, O. J., D. Hambardzumyan, T. R. Walker, K. Helmy, J. Nazarian, S. Albrecht, R. L. Hiner, S. Gall, J. T. Huse, N. Jabado, T. J. MacDonald and E. C. Holland (2010). "Preclinical evaluation of radiation and perifosine in a genetically and histologically accurate model of brainstem glioma." Cancer Res 70(6): 2548-57.
     
  • Shrestha, B., P. Nemes, J. Nazarian, Y. Hathout, E. P. Hoffman and A. Vertes (2010). "Direct analysis of lipids and small metabolites in mouse brain tissue by AP IR-MALDI and reactive LAESI mass spectrometry." Analyst 135(4): 751-8.
     
  • Brim, H., K. Kumar, J. Nazarian, Y. Hathout, A. Jafarian, E. Lee, W. Green, D. Smoot, J. Park, M. Nouraie and H. Ashktorab (2011). "SLC5A8 gene, a transporter of butyrate: a gut flora metabolite, is frequently methylated in African American colon adenomas." PLoS One 6(6): e20216.
     
  • Nazarian, J., D. L. Berry, S. Sanjari, M. Razvi, K. Brown, Y. Hathout, A. Vertes, S. Dadgar and E. P. Hoffman (2011). "Evolution and comparative genomics of subcellular specializations: EST sequencing of Torpedo electric organ." Marine Genomics 4(1): 33-40.
     
  • Amanda Muhs Saratsis, Sridevi Yadavilli, Suresh Magge, Brian R. Rood, Jennifer Perez, Ashley Hill, Eugene Hwang, Lindsay Kilburn, Roger J. Packer, Javad Nazarian; Insights into Pediatric Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma through Proteomic Analysis of Cerebrospinal Fluid; Neuro-Oncology journal, 2012 May;14(5):547-60. Corresponding Author
     
  • Kristy J. Brown, Catherine A. Formolo, Haeri Seol, Stephanie Duguez, Eunkyung An, Dinesh Pillai, Javad Nazarian, Brian Rood and Yetrib Hathout, Advances in the proteomic investigation of the cell secretome, journal Expert Review in Proteomic; 2012 Jun;9(3):337-45.
     
  • Vaikkinen, Anu; Shrestha, Bindesh; Nazarian, Javad; Kostiainen, Risto; Vertes, Akos; Kauppila, Tiina;
     
  • Simultaneous Detection of Nonpolar and Polar Compounds by Heat-Assisted Laser Ablation Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry; Anal. Chem., 2013, 85 (1), pp 177–184
     
  • L.Y. Ballester; Z. Wang; S.S.; M.M.; P.B.; C.G. Eberhart; F.J. Rodriguez; E. R.; J. Nazarian;  K. Warren; Martha M. Quezado; Morphologic characteristics and immunohistochemical profile of diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas. American Journal of Surgical Pathology; [in press]

Research

My laboratory is interested in the molecular analysis of pediatric brainstem gliomas (BSGs) and developing novel methodologies for drug delivery.  Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) are high grade brainstem gliomas (BSGs) that remain uniformly fatal. Despite three decades of clinical research, the survival rate of children with high grade gliomas (WHO Grades III and IV) remains less than 10%.  Factors contributing to the lack of progress include challenges in surgical resection, poor availability of tissue, and lack of robust animal models of the disease. 

We have recently generated preliminary protein, mRNA and microRNA profiles of DIPG and BSG specimens. Our preliminary data has identified tumor specific proteins that could be suitable for targeted treatment of the disease. Our ongoing studies include verifying our candidate molecules and assess their role in cancer induction and progression. We also have access to the only genetically engineered murine model of the disease and have generated protein profile of this murine model and show overlapping networks with human DIPG and BSG. 

One of the major obstacles in treating brain tumors is drug delivery, mainly due to the blood brain barrier (BBB). To address this obstacle my team is working toward designing and testing nanoparticle-assisted technologies for delivery of drug agents to brain tumors. Our goal is to use nanoparticle-based drug delivery of regulatory microRNAs to tumor cells. Experimentation in an area of research that has been understudied is both challenging and at the same time rewarding. The long term goal of our study is to apply our molecular findings for tumor treatment, advanced surgical resection and development of targeted therapeutics.

Industry Relationships and Collaborations

This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported a financial interest with the health care related companies listed below. These relations have been reported to the University and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts.

  • None