Rupen Desai, MD

Clinical & research interests

I am interested in advancing precision medicine for benign and malignant brain tumors, with prior research focus utilizing Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cells for the treatment of Glioblastoma. I am currently completing a post-doctoral fellowship with Dr. Gavin Dunn, in collaboration with Dr. Tanner Johanns and Dr. Allegra Petti, where I am expanding my research expertise in the following fields:

• Understanding the Tumor Microenvironment: Using single cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomic techniques, I am investigating intra-tumoral heterogeneity in glioblastoma and meningioma samples to better understand the physiology of CNS tumors. My goal is to use this understanding to better inform clinical and surgical decision making.
• Innovative Treatment Adjuvants: I have helped develop an MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) murine mouse model to evaluate its effect on the glioblastoma tumor microenvironment and identify immunologic perturbations to synergistically function with immune therapy to improve outcomes.
• Minimally Invasive Serial Biopsies: To improve early diagnosis and targeted therapy for intracranial tumors, I am designing a digital droplet PCR assay with locked nucleic acids to improve the sensitivity and specificity of the liquid biopsy technique.

Honors & awards

• The Robert L. Grubb Jr., MD Clinical Excellence Award, 2018
• Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, Washington University in St Louis, 2020