Brain tumor research & radiation oncology at USC. Assistant Professor sharing insights and updates. Thoughts are my own.
Los Angeles, CA
Joined September 2016
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Aram Modrek retweeted
🧠New article! ICI drives T cell–microglia neuroinflammation, synaptic/myelin loss & neurodegeneration—validated in human brain. Key insights for safer cancer immunotherapy. Kudos @swami_devyani , Acharya Lab 🔬 advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley… #Immunotherapy #Neuroscience #CancerResearch
Aram Modrek retweeted
Finally, sudo make me a sandwich is reality.
Seeing so many ai/bio ventures - people with engineering and CS backgrounds, or even light bio training, don’t understand how many unknown variables are yet to be understood. This is why experiments are more important than theoretical findings or hypothesis generating AI tools
Aram Modrek retweeted
Transcription in check at DNA double-strand breaks dlvr.it/TTRxYH
Aram Modrek retweeted
scplotter provides a set of functions to visualize single-cell sequencing data in an easy and efficient way
github.com/pwwang/scplotter/…
Aram Modrek retweeted
Paying peer reviewers led to faster first editorial decisions — an average of 5.5 working days, down from nearly 38 for unpaid reviews.
The review quality, as judged by handling editors on the basis of helpfulness in making an editorial decision, went up.
1/
Aram Modrek retweeted
Why does cisplatin treatment cause neurons to die?
We identify that too much DNA repair exhausts the low level of dNTPs in neurons and drives cisplatin neurotoxicity. From @nussenza lab. Thanks to our many great collaborators on this work! Check it out:
cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092…
Aram Modrek retweeted
It’s estimated that the Protein Data Bank (PDB) cost around $13B to create. Alphafold was only possible because of it. If we want ML to solve biology, we should be funding the creation of databases and the development of new assay technologies. ML is nothing without data.
Aram Modrek retweeted
Every cancer drug you prescribe today
was once an NIH grant nobody noticed.
Pharma celebrates launches.
Few notice the 20–40 year runway behind that.
Gleevec took 41 years from NIH-funded discovery of the Philadelphia chromosome → FDA approval.
Behind every “breakthrough” sits a graveyard of failed attempts that made it possible.
Cut that lineage today,
the next Gleevec doesn’t arrive in 2067.
Funded science matters.
If someone says NIH funded science is inefficient,
show them this.
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Source: NIH RePORTER · FDA · via @Jori_health
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Aram Modrek retweeted
Had so much fun sharing the stage with some leaders in Adaptive Radiation at #ARS2026
One of the coolest parts about being a junior faculty is going from learning from your mentors to sharing the stage with them now as colleagues and friends @lauren_henke
Outstanding #ARS2026 session on Adaptive Radiotherapy by @lauren_henke, @SA_Rosenberg, & @JoshuaSchiffMD highlighting how my two ❤️ imaging🩻 & biology🧫 can ⬆️ the therapeutic window to improve outcomes & ⬇️tox for our patients. @RadiumSociety
Aram Modrek retweeted
New preprint! We used Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing to ask: does chromosome-arm-specific telomere length shape how IDH-mutant astrocytoma genomes evolve? Short answer: yes, and in two opposite directions. 🔗 biorxiv.org/content/10.64898…
Aram Modrek retweeted
Scientific publishing needs to change. In a new preprint, HHMI President Erin O'Shea and Bodo Stern argue that the incentives are misaligned. Researchers should be evaluated on what they choose to share, not what journals select. I’m proud that @hhmi_science is leading the way. Read the preprint here: doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19600…
Aram Modrek retweeted
ReRT with Spine SBRT
107 lesions most 18-24Gy/1 or 30-36Gy/3
Median time to reRT 12 mo
1 Yr LC 88%
No RM, 5 cases periph neuropathy
sciencedirect.com/science/ar…
Aram Modrek retweeted
🚨 1 MONTH COUNTDOWN 🚨
In just one month, we’ll come together for the 3rd Annual Southern California Brain Tumor Conference, and you’re invited to be part of the momentum.
Join us on March 27, 2026 at the USC Health Sciences Campus for a powerful day of discovery, collaboration, and hope, featuring our exceptional keynote speaker, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, and leading experts from across Southern California’s top institutions sharing the newest research and breakthroughs aimed at finding better treatments—and ultimately, a cure for brain cancer.
✨ Why attend?
🧠 Hear cutting-edge updates in brain tumor science and clinical innovation
🤝 Learn how SoCal institutions are working together to accelerate progress
💛 Connect with physicians, researchers, patients, caregivers, and advocates united by one mission
✅ Register today (space is limited):
f.mtr.cool/etqshzdnzd
#BrainTumor #BrainCancer #Glioblastoma #NeuroOncology #CancerResearch #KeckMedicine #USC #SoCalBrainTumorConference #HopeThroughScience #TeamScience #ClinicalTrials #TogetherWeFight
Aram Modrek retweeted
✨ We are proud to announce Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong as the Keynote Speaker for the 3rd Annual Southern California Brain Tumor Conference. His work at the intersection of science and innovation reflects the urgency of our mission: accelerating discovery and improving outcomes for patients facing the most challenging brain tumors. ✨
A physician-scientist and entrepreneur, Dr. Soon-Shiong has helped shape modern cancer treatment and immunotherapy.
He is widely known for inventing Abraxane, a nanoparticle-based chemotherapy designed to deliver treatment more effectively to tumors.
He also pioneered precision oncology platforms through NantHealth/NantOmics, integrating DNA, RNA, and protein profiling to guide individualized cancer care.
Importantly, his work also highlights the role of AI, advanced computing, and digital infrastructure in accelerating data-driven medicine and cancer care.
His work in precision oncology and immunotherapy is helping drive new strategies being explored across complex cancers: including those with urgent unmet needs like brain tumors.
📅 March 27, 2026
📍 USC Health Sciences Campus
🔗 Register (link in bio)
f.mtr.cool/mgpjkltksi
#SouthernCaliforniaBrainTumorConference #KeckMedicineOfUSC #KeckSchoolOfMedicine #BrainTumor #BrainCancer #Glioblastoma #NeuroOncology #Neurosurgery #Immunotherapy #PrecisionOncology #AIinMedicine #CancerResearch #ClinicalTrials #HopeThroughScience #Collaboration
Aram Modrek retweeted
Members of the USC Brain Tumor Center recently attended a seminar by Nobel Prize Laureate Ardem Patapoutian, who presented his groundbreaking work on the molecular mechanisms that allow cells to sense touch, pressure, and mechanical forces, discoveries that led to his Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. The seminar sparked engaging discussion on the broader implications of mechanosensation in human health and disease. Pictured is BTC member Aram Modrek MD, PhD, meeting with Dr. Patapoutian following the seminar.
#science #nobelprize #physiology #medicine
Aram Modrek retweeted
Umberto Eco, who owned 50,000 books, had this to say about home libraries:
“It is foolish to think that you have to read all the books you buy, as it is foolish to criticize those who buy more books than they will ever be able to read. It would be like saying that you should use all the cutlery or glasses or screwdrivers or drill bits you bought before buying new ones.
“There are things in life that we need to always have plenty of supplies, even if we will only use a small portion.
“If, for example, we consider books as medicine, we understand that it is good to have many at home rather than a few: when you want to feel better, then you go to the ‘medicine closet’ and choose a book. Not a random one, but the right book for that moment. That’s why you should always have a nutrition choice!
“Those who buy only one book, read only that one and then get rid of it. They simply apply the consumer mentality to books, that is, they consider them a consumer product, a good. Those who love books know that a book is anything but a commodity.”
Aram Modrek retweeted
“I think that people need to understand that basic research is an investment. It’s an investment in our future.”
Frances Arnold will join us for this year’s Nobel Week Dialogue on 9 December where we will tackle issues including how mental health, diseases of ageing and the prevention of chronic disease conditions must rise up political agendas.
Nobel Prize laureates, academics, innovators and policymakers will explore one of the most urgent challenges of our time: how to deliver equitable, effective, and sustainable healthcare in the 21st century. The event will be live streamed on nobelprize.org.
In a new interview with Arnold she emphasises how science flourishes through open exchange of ideas, sustained investment in basic research and collaboration across borders to drive future innovation and sustainability.
Read the interview: bit.ly/3WEc9xo
ALT Frances Arnold, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2018, is giving a lecture. The quote "People need to understand that basic research is an investment" is displayed next to her.
Aram Modrek retweeted
Behind every ABTA grant is a bold mind working to change the future for brain tumor patients.
This fall, we welcomed new researchers focused on:
🔬 Precision treatments
💜 Better outcomes & quality of life
💡 Inspiring the next generation
Together, we power breakthroughs.
Meet the grantees: abta.org/2025-grant-recipien…
