Research
My research is motivated by a translational goal: to understand the cellular architecture of glioblastoma (GBM) well enough to design therapies that target it precisely. Working in the Bhaduri Lab at UCLA, I combine clonal barcoding (CellTagging), single-cell transcriptomics, and in vitro and in vivo models to map progenitor hierarchies in patient-derived GBM and identify the cell populations that drive therapeutic resistance.
A central finding of my PhD is that GBM heterogeneity is not random. It is organized by restricted progenitor populations that give rise to predictable clonal lineages. This structure creates cell type-specific dependencies that can be targeted therapeutically.
A second line of work identified a neurovascular progenitor (NVP) state that sits at the convergence of multiple GBM lineage trajectories. This population expresses a hybrid transcriptional program bridging neural and vascular identities, and appears to play a central role in sustaining tumor plasticity.
Together, this body of work advances a framework of lineage-resolved progenitor organization as a foundation for rational, cell type-specific therapeutic targeting in GBM. My dissertation is titled Lineage-Resolved Progenitor Organization as a Framework for Therapeutic Targeting in Glioblastoma.
First Author Publications
bioRxiv · 2026
A neurovascular progenitor sits at the nexus of glioblastoma lineage trajectories
Fazzari E, et al.
View paperbioRxiv · 2026
Predictable clonal hierarchies from restricted progenitors provide a framework for cell type-specific therapies in glioblastoma
Fazzari E, et al.
View paperAll Publications
* = equal contribution
A neurovascular progenitor sits at the nexus of glioblastoma lineage trajectories
Fazzari E, Azizad DJ, Yu K, Ge W, Li MX, Nano PR, Baisiwala S, Martija A, Kan RL, Caston J, et al. · bioRxiv · 2026
Predictable clonal hierarchies from restricted progenitors provide a framework for cell type-specific therapies in glioblastoma
Fazzari E, Azizad DJ, Li MX, Ge W, Baisiwala S, Cadet D, Nano PR, Kan RL, Perryman T, Tum HA, et al. · bioRxiv · 2026
A human tumor-immune organoid model of glioblastoma
Baisiwala S, Fazzari E, Li MX, Martija A, Azizad DJ, Sun L, Herrera G, Phan T, Monteleone A, Kan RL, et al. · Cell Reports · 2026
Human organoid tumor transplantation identifies functional glioblastoma-microenvironment communication mediated by PTPRZ1
Ge W, Kan RL, Yilgor C, Fazzari E, Nano PR, Azizad DJ, Shinglot H, Li M, Ito JY, Tse C, et al. · Cell Reports · 2026
Integrated analysis of molecular atlases unveils modules driving developmental cell subtype specification in the human cortex
Nano PR, Fazzari E, et al. · Nature Neuroscience · 2025
Non-muscle myosin II inhibition at the site of axon injury increases axon regeneration
Heo K, Ho TS-Y, Zeng X, Turnes BL, Arab M, Jayakar S, Chen K, Kimourtzis G, Condro MC, Fazzari E, et al. · Nature Communications · 2025
Subfunctionalized expression drives evolutionary retention of ribosomal protein paralogs Rps27 and Rps27l in vertebrates
Xu AF, Molinuevo R, Fazzari E, et al. · eLife · 2023
18F-FDOPA PET and MRI characteristics correlate with degree of malignancy and predict survival in treatment-naive gliomas: a cross-sectional study
Patel CB*, Fazzari E*, Chakhoyan A, et al. · Journal of Neuro-Oncology · 2018
*Co-first author
Presentations
Glioblastoma Neurovascular Progenitor Orchestrates Tumor Cell Type Diversity
Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting, Houston, TX · November 2024
Glioblastoma Neurovascular Progenitor Orchestrates Tumor Cell Type Diversity
American Cancer Society Cancer Stem Cell Consortium · August 2024
Single-cell lineage tracing in primary glioblastoma reveals distinct progenitor subtypes driving intratumoral heterogeneity
Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC · November 2023
Single-Cell Lineage Tracing in Primary Glioblastoma
UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center Work in Progress Seminar · June 2023
Understanding Glioblastoma Heterogeneity and Implications on Tumor Evolution
Department of Biological Chemistry Work in Progress Seminar · May 2021
Understanding Metabolic Influences on Epigenetics as a Therapeutic Strategy for Glioma
UCLA Undergraduate Research Poster Day · UCLA Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program Research Poster Day · May 2018
Winner, UCLA Dean's Prize in Undergraduate Research · Winner, Neuroscience Poster Day
Modulating glioma oncometabolite formation: exogenous alpha-ketoglutarate increases intracellular D-2-hydroxyglutarate
UCLA Summer Poster Day · 2017
Upfront 18F-DOPA PET Predicts Tumor Grade and Prognosis in Suspected Glioma and Extends MRI-Based Findings
UCLA Neurology Collins Day · 2016