Elisa Fazzari
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.
About
I am an MD-PhD candidate in the UCLA-Caltech Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), completing my dissertation in the Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program. My research, conducted in the laboratory of Professor Aparna Bhaduri, focuses on the cellular and molecular organization of glioblastoma, specifically how lineage hierarchies shape tumor heterogeneity and therapeutic vulnerability.
I use single-cell technologies including CellTagging and transcriptomics to map progenitor dynamics in GBM. The central aim is translational: by resolving the lineage structure of tumors, we can identify which cell populations drive resistance or recurrence and design therapies that target them specifically. My dissertation work has identified a neurovascular progenitor population that sits at the nexus of glioblastoma lineage trajectories.
Clinically, I am training 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.
Alongside my scientific work, I engage with early-stage life sciences investing, focusing on companies translating discoveries in genomics, cell therapy, and precision oncology into clinical impact, with a particular interest in the CNS space.
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
Featured Publications
bioRxiv · 2026
A neurovascular progenitor sits at the nexus of glioblastoma lineage trajectories
Fazzari E, et al.
View paper
bioRxiv · 2026
Predictable clonal hierarchies from restricted progenitors provide a framework for cell type-specific therapies in glioblastoma
Fazzari E, et al.
View paperVenture Capital
Beginning in 2023, I worked with Fast Track Initiative, a life sciences venture fund, where I led deal sourcing, due diligence, and competitive landscape analysis across a range of early-stage companies. That work gave me a sharper lens for evaluating scientific platforms from first principles and thinking critically about what separates durable biology from incremental progress.
My scientific background shapes how I approach investing. I am drawn to companies where the underlying biology is genuinely novel and where a clear translational path exists. I have a particular interest in the CNS space, informed by years of working directly on brain tumor biology, though my focus extends across oncology, genomics, and cell and gene therapy more broadly.
I believe the most interesting opportunities at the bench-to-bedside interface often go undercapitalized early. I am most energized working with founders who are deeply technical and thinking seriously about the clinical problem they are solving.
Focus Areas
Get in touch
Open to conversations about research, translational science, and early-stage life sciences investing.
Email Me© 2026 Elisa Fazzari