Atique U Ahmed

Atique U Ahmed, PhD is the Allen Buckner Kanavel Professor of Neurosurgery at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. He serves as a Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery and leads the Ahmed Lab, which focuses on understanding therapeutic resistance mechanisms in brain tumors. His work bridges laboratory research with clinical applications through the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics.

Education:

• PhD from Mayo Graduate School (2007)
• Postdoctoral Fellow at Mayo Medical School, specializing in Drosophila Genetics and Tumor Biology (2009)
• Postdoctoral Fellow at The University of Chicago in Neuro-Oncology Research (2011)

Dr. Ahmed's research primarily investigates cellular plasticity in brain tumors, particularly how it promotes cancer stem cell niches and disease recurrence. His laboratory focuses on identifying novel druggable targets to initiate clinical trials for brain tumor patients. With expertise spanning neuro-oncology, cancer biology, stem cells, and therapeutic resistance mechanisms, his work has significant implications for improving glioblastoma treatment outcomes. The Ahmed Lab emphasizes translational research to bridge the gap between bench discoveries and bedside applications.

Analysis of Dr. Ahmed's recent publications reveals a strong focus on understanding glioblastoma's resistance mechanisms at molecular and cellular levels. His work spans multiple approaches including immune checkpoint blockade, metabolic adaptations, DNA damage response pathways, and novel therapeutic combinations. Key themes include targeting CHEK2-YBX1 interactions, microglial metabolism, RRM2-driven dNTP biosynthesis, and ARF4-mediated retrograde trafficking as drivers of chemoresistance.

Scientific Awards:

• Feinberg School of Medicine Excellence in Teaching Recognition (AOSC Mentor) (2021)
• Distinguished Young Alumni, Minnesota State University, Winona, MN (2019)
• Research Scholar, American Cancer Society (2016)
• Huggins Junior Faculty Award, Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, IL (2012)
• Award of Best Project of the Year in Gene Therapy, American Society of Cell and Gene Therapy (2003)
• Scholar-in-Training Award, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (2003)

Dr. Ahmed actively mentors the next generation of scientists through the Ahmed Lab, which follows guiding principles of collaboration, work-life balance, and teaching responsibility. The lab has received significant funding including a $10.8 million Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant from the National Cancer Institute for brain cancer research. His team includes high school students through postdocs, working together to advance brain tumor treatment.

The Ahmed Lab operates at the Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center in Chicago, utilizing cutting-edge facilities to conduct translational research. The lab emphasizes collaboration across disciplines and shares resources publicly to advance glioblastoma and cancer research. Current projects include Phase 1 Clinical Trial NCT06410248 and multiple approaches targeting therapeutic resistance in brain tumors.