Mariam Khaled, PhD

My current research investigates how the metabolic changes in the tumor microenvironment contribute to the immune-suppressed environment and the rapid neurological deterioration in leptomeningeal disease. In Dr. Inna Smalley's lab, we are interested in studying leptomeningeal disease due to these tumors' aggressive and therapy-resistant nature. Typically, patients with leptomeningeal metastasis have a short survival time measured in mere weeks and debilitating neurocognitive symptoms. Very little is currently known about the biology of this disease, and novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. My research aims to find effective cancer-therapy regimens for leptomeningeal disease to improve patients' survival times and quality of life. I am working with an interactive and multi-disciplinary team utilizing new cutting-edge techniques such as spatial transcriptomics, single-cell RNA seq, and omics analysis, along with in-vitro and in-vivo mouse models, to accomplish my goals.