David Akhavan, M.D., Ph.D.

Professional Background

After receiving his Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of California Los Angeles in the Medical Scientist Training Program, Dr. Akhavan went on to complete his PhD studying mechanisms of resistance to EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors at the University of California Los Angeles. Dr. Akhavan then completed his residency in Radiation Oncology at the City of Hope National Medical Center. There, he completed embedded postdoctoral training at the T cell Research Laboratory (TCTRL) studying CAR T cells for Glioma.

• PhD, Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California Los Angeles, Medical Scientist Training Program, Los Angeles, CA
• MD, Medical Doctorate, University of California Los Angeles, Medical Scientist Training Program, Los Angeles, CA
• BS, Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
• Residency, Radiation Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA

• Kansas License, Kansas State Board of Healing Arts

• Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center Scientific Advisor Committee , Member, 2020 - Present
• American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy, Member, 2019 - Present
• American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncologists, Member, 2019 - Present
• Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, Member, 2019 - Present

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Research

Overview

Dr. Akhavan conducts an active research laboratory developing cell-based immunotherapy targeting malignant brain tumors, including Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cells. His laboratory focuses on a molecular dissection of tumor antigen loss, T cell exhaustion, and cell manufacturing bottlenecks.

• Akhavan David, Subham Siddharth, Jeppson John, Aguilar Brenda, Wong Robyn, Hibbard Jonathan C, Hui Susanta, Wong Jeffrey, Forman Stephen J, Alizadeh Darya, Brown Christine. 2024. 786 Evaluation of the immunomodulatory effects of radiation for chimeric antigen receptor T Cell therapy in glioblastoma multiforme, A890-A890. https://doi.org/10.1136/jitc-2024-sitc2024.0786
• Subham S, Jeppson JD, Worcester C, Schatmeyer B, Zhao J, Madan R, Lakis NS, Kimler BF, McGuirk JP, Chen RC, Stecklein SR, Akhavan D. 2023. EGFR as a potent CAR T target in triple negative breast cancer brain metastases.. Breast cancer research and treatment, 197 (1), 57-69
• Akhavan D, Pourzia AL, Nourian AA, Williams KJ, Nathanson D, Babic I, Villa GR, Tanaka K, Nael N, Yang H, Dang J, Vinters HV, Yong WH, Flagg M, Tamanoi F, Sasayama T, James CD, Kornblum KI, Cloughesy TF, Cavanee WK, Bensinger SJ, Mischel PS. 2017. De-repression of PDGFRβ transcription promotes acquired resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors in glioblastoma patients. Cancer Discovery