Sameer Agnihotri, PhD

Sameer Agnihotri, PhD, is a tenured associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery and serves as the director of the Brain Tumor Biology and Therapy Laboratory, based at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Dr. Agnihotri earned his PhD in medical biophysics from the University of Toronto in 2012, where he focused on identifying novel drivers of glioblastoma. His research primarily investigates pediatric and adult high-grade gliomas (HGG), including diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG), with a significant focus on NF1-associated tumor biology and its implications for brain tumor progression.

Through integrated genomic and metabolic analyses, Dr. Agnihotri's laboratory aims to develop accurate preclinical models of high-grade gliomas. These models are essential for testing novel therapies and facilitating early-phase clinical trials, ultimately striving toward personalized brain tumor treatments.

A significant focus of Dr. Agnihotri’s work is on the tumor suppressor genes NF1, NF2, and chromosome 9p in brain tumor development. NF1, which encodes neurofibromin, plays a critical role in negatively regulating the RAS-MAPK and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways, both of which are crucial for cell proliferation and survival. Mutations or loss of function in NF1 can drive uncontrolled cell growth, contributing to the progression of high-grade gliomas. His current research on NF1 is centered on developing novel genome engineering tools to enhance gene therapy strategies. Additionally, his team has uncovered previously unrecognized metabolic roles for NF1, which present opportunities for drug repurposing or even dietary interventions as therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Agnihotri's contributions to brain tumor biology have earned him international recognition. In 2022, he was awarded the prestigious Sontag Distinguished Scientist Award for his pioneering work on pediatric brain tumors. His research is supported by grants from the Department of Defense and the V Foundation for Cancer Research, highlighting the impact and promise of his investigations.

Dr. Agnihotri has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications, and his findings have been published in top-tier medical journals, including Cell, Nature Genetics, Nature Cancer, Cancer Cell, Cancer Discovery, Cell Metabolism, Cancer Research, JCI Insight, Molecular Oncology, and Developmental Cell. He has served as a grant reviewer for the Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health study sections and is a member of the editorial board for Cancer Research and Neuro-Oncology.

Dr. Agnihotri's publications can be reviewed through the National Library of Medicine's publication database.