ElisaFazzari

MD-PhD Candidate in Neuroscience · Venture Capital

Physician-scientist at UCLA working at the intersection of brain tumor biology, therapeutic development, and early-stage life sciences investing.

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Elisa Fazzari

01 · About

MD-PhD candidate in the UCLA-Caltech MSTP, completing dissertation work in the Bhaduri lab on the cellular and molecular organization of glioblastoma. My research uses single-cell technologies including CellTagging to map progenitor dynamics, and has identified a neurovascular progenitor population at the nexus of glioblastoma lineage trajectories.

Clinically, I train at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, with interests in neuro-oncology and translational medicine. I expect to complete my PhD in June 2026 before returning to clinical training.

Education

  • MD-PhD, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
    UCLA-Caltech MSTP · 2020–present
  • PhD, Neuroscience, UCLA
    Expected June 2026
  • B.S. Neuroscience, UCLA
    Minor in Biomedical Research · 2014–2018

02 · Research

Research.

My research is motivated by a translational goal: understand the cellular architecture of glioblastoma well enough to design therapies that target it precisely. I combine clonal barcoding (CellTagging), single-cell transcriptomics, and patient-derived models to map progenitor hierarchies in GBM and identify the cell populations that drive therapeutic resistance.

A central finding is that GBM heterogeneity is organized by restricted progenitor populations giving rise to predictable clonal lineages, and that a neurovascular progenitor state sits at the convergence of multiple GBM trajectories. Together, this work advances a framework of lineage-resolved progenitor organization as a foundation for cell type-specific therapeutic targeting.

Dissertation

Lineage-Resolved Progenitor Organization as a Framework for Therapeutic Targeting in Glioblastoma

UCLA Neuroscience IDP · expected June 2026

All publications

* = equal contribution

Presentations

  • November 2024

    Glioblastoma Neurovascular Progenitor Orchestrates Tumor Cell Type Diversity

    Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting, Houston, TX

  • August 2024

    Glioblastoma Neurovascular Progenitor Orchestrates Tumor Cell Type Diversity

    American Cancer Society Cancer Stem Cell Consortium

  • November 2023

    Single-cell lineage tracing in primary glioblastoma reveals distinct progenitor subtypes driving intratumoral heterogeneity

    Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC

  • June 2023

    Single-Cell Lineage Tracing in Primary Glioblastoma

    UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center Work in Progress Seminar

  • May 2021

    Understanding Glioblastoma Heterogeneity and Implications on Tumor Evolution

    Department of Biological Chemistry Work in Progress Seminar

  • May 2018

    Understanding Metabolic Influences on Epigenetics as a Therapeutic Strategy for Glioma

    UCLA Undergraduate Research Poster Day · UCLA Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program Research Poster Day

    Winner, UCLA Dean's Prize in Undergraduate Research · Winner, Neuroscience Poster Day

  • 2017

    Modulating glioma oncometabolite formation: exogenous alpha-ketoglutarate increases intracellular D-2-hydroxyglutarate

    UCLA Summer Poster Day

  • 2016

    Upfront 18F-DOPA PET Predicts Tumor Grade and Prognosis in Suspected Glioma and Extends MRI-Based Findings

    UCLA Neurology Collins Day

03 · Capital

Early-stage life sciences.

Venture Fellow at Fast Track Initiative. Leading due diligence, competitive landscaping, and deal sourcing across early-stage companies.

Interested in the intersection between translational science and therapeutic development.

Focus areas

  • CNS & Neuro-Oncology
  • Cell & Gene Therapy
  • Genomics
  • Precision Medicine
  • Early-Stage Life Sciences
  • Translational Research

04 · Contact

Open to conversations about research, translational science, and early-stage life sciences investing.

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