Josh Neman-Ebrahim, PhD

Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery and Physiology & Neuroscience

Director for the PhD Program in Cancer Biology and Genomics

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Overview

Dr. Josh Neman is an Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery, Physiology & Neuroscience at the Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California (USC). Dr. Neman is the Director of the Cancer Biology & Genomics Doctoral Program and the Scientific Director of the USC Brain Tumor. As well, Dr. Neman is the Co-leader of Neuro-oncology Disease Affinity Group and Director of Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC) at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Dr. Neman received his doctoral degree at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine in Neurobiology. He then went on to complete his Cancer Biology Fellowship at the City of Hope’s Beckman Research Institute where he was a California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Fellow focusing on brain tumors.

As the Director of the Laboratory of Cancer Neuroscience (www.cancerneuroscience.org), Dr. Neman’s current research investigates the biology of brain metastases (cancers that spread to the brain—i.e. breast, lung, melanoma, prostate) and pediatric brain tumors. His expertise and strengths in stem cell biology and neuroscience have allowed him to develop novel molecular, cellular, and therapeutic approach to study the bidirectional interplay between the brain and cancer cells (termed cancer neuroscience). Dr. Neman’s goal is to uncover novel mechanism used by the nervous system to promote tumor growth and spread. This will ultimately result in development of improved strategies for cancer prevention and treatment of patients with these devastating diseases.

Dr. Neman has been the recipient of multiple research awards including from National Institutes of Health (National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke), CIRM, American Cancer Society, American Brain Tumor Association, STOP Cancer, METAvivor, Uncle Korry Foundation, Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and Department of Defense.

Dr. Neman is strong supporter of involving the community in his basic and translational laboratory—this involves engaging with patients, patient advocates, and their families’. He served on the Board of Directors of Susan G Komen LA County and is involved with American Brain Tumor Association at multiple levels.

For more information on Dr. Neman and his research endeavors please visit: cancerneuroscience.org

Awards

  • UCLA: Gonda/Goldschmeid Neuroscience Award
  • City of Hope and Beckman Research Institute: Outstanding Postdoctoral Research Project Award

Research Keywords

  • Brain Tumor
  • Breast Cancer
  • Brain Metastases
  • Medulloblastoma
  • Tumor Microenvironment
  • Clinical Trials
  • Neuroscience
  • Stem Cells
  • Blood Brain Barrier

Publications

  • Medulloblastoma uses GABA transaminase to survive in the cerebrospinal fluid microenvironment and promote leptomeningeal dissemination. Cell Rep. 2021 06 29; 35(13):109302.. View in PubMed
  • Clinical Perspectives in Brain Metastasis. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2020 06 01; 10(6).. View in PubMed
  • Targeted Transdermal Delivery of Curcumin for Breast Cancer Prevention. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 12 06; 16(24).. View in PubMed
  • Isolation of Neural Stem Cells from Whole Brain Tissues of Adult Mice. Curr Protoc Stem Cell Biol. 2019 06; 49(1):e80.. View in PubMed
  • Inhibition of GLO1 in Glioblastoma Multiforme Increases DNA-AGEs, Stimulates RAGE Expression, and Inhibits Brain Tumor Growth in Orthotopic Mouse Models. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Jan 30; 19(2).. View in PubMed
  • Regional Delivery of Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Engineered T Cells Effectively Targets HER2+ Breast Cancer Metastasis to the Brain. Clin Cancer Res. 2018 01 01; 24(1):95-105.. View in PubMed
  • Cooperation of neurotrophin receptor TrkB and Her2 in breast cancer cells facilitates brain metastases. Breast Cancer Res. 2017 04 26; 19(1):51.. View in PubMed
  • Meeting report: Metastasis Research Society-Chinese Tumor Metastasis Society joint conference on metastasis. Clin Exp Metastasis. 2017 04; 34(3-4):203-213.. View in PubMed
  • Medulloblastoma initiation and spread: Where neurodevelopment, microenvironment and cancer cross pathways. J Neurosci Res. 2016 12; 94(12):1511-1519.. View in PubMed
  • Inhibition of β2-adrenergic receptor reduces triple-negative breast cancer brain metastases: The potential benefit of perioperative β-blockade. Oncol Rep. 2016 Jun; 35(6):3135-42.. View in PubMed