Sanda Alexandrescu

Sanda Alexandrescu, MD is an Associate Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School. She serves as Director of Neuropathology, Director of Autopsy, and Director of the Brigham and Women Hospital/Boston Children's Hospital Neuropathology Fellowship Program at Boston Children's Hospital. Additionally, she is an Attending Physician at the Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Blood Disorders Center, where she provides specialized pathology services for pediatric patients with complex neurological conditions and blood disorders.

Education:

• Medical School: The Victor Babes University of Medicine (2004, Timisoara, Romania)
• Residency: Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, University of Texas (2012, Houston, TX)
• Fellowship: Pediatric Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital (2013, Boston, MA)
• Fellowship: Neuropathology, University of California, San Francisco (2015, San Francisco, CA)

Dr. Alexandrescu's research focuses on the molecular characterization of pediatric central nervous system tumors, with particular emphasis on gliomas, embryonal tumors, and vascular malformations. Her work integrates advanced genomic techniques with traditional neuropathological analysis to identify diagnostic markers, prognostic indicators, and potential therapeutic targets. She has made significant contributions to understanding the molecular landscape of IDH-mutant gliomas across age groups and the pathogenesis of GNAQ-driven vascular anomalies.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trend toward molecular characterization of pediatric brain tumors using next-generation sequencing, DNA methylation profiling, and single-cell analysis. Her work bridges basic science discoveries with clinical applications, particularly in developing targeted therapies for pediatric CNS malignancies. A significant portion of her research focuses on tumor heterogeneity, immune microenvironment interactions, and age-specific molecular alterations in CNS tumors.

As Director of the Neuropathology Fellowship Program, Dr. Alexandrescu oversees the training of future neuropathologists, integrating both traditional diagnostic techniques and modern molecular approaches into the curriculum. Her leadership in the Autopsy Pathology service ensures comprehensive postmortem evaluations that contribute to understanding disease mechanisms and treatment responses in pediatric patients.

Dr. Alexandrescu's work is primarily conducted within the Department of Pathology at Boston Children's Hospital, which processes approximately 12,000 surgical pathology cases and 50 autopsies annually. Her research benefits from collaboration with multiple hospital departments including Hematology/Oncology, Neurology, and Cardiovascular Surgery, as well as Harvard Medical School's broader research community.