SCSAP SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT
Houtan Noushmehr, Ph.D.
Director, Liquid Biopsy Program
Senior Scientist (Henry Ford Health)
Associate Professor (Michigan State University)
Title: Decoding the G-CIMP Transition in IDH-Mutant Glioma Through Single-Nucleus Multiomics
Abstract:Progression of IDH-mutant gliomas can involve a shift from the G-CIMP-high to the more aggressive G-CIMP-low DNA methylation phenotype, yet the cellular programs underlying this transition remain incompletely understood. We integrated single-nucleus RNA sequencing and chromatin accessibility profiling across 18 primary and recurrent glioma specimens from 10 patients to investigate malignant cell-state heterogeneity and associated regulatory programs. We identified six distinct malignant cell states, with G-CIMP-low tumors enriched for proliferative and mesenchymal-like programs associated with poorer clinical outcomes. Integrated multiomic analyses implicated transcriptional regulatory networks involving E2F, MYC, and NOTCH, alongside changes in tumor–microenvironment interactions. These findings provide new insights into the cellular and epigenetic landscape of IDH-mutant glioma progression, linking the G-CIMP-low phenotype to distinct malignant cell states and highlighting potential biological mechanisms underlying aggressive tumor behavior.
Short Bio: Houtan Noushmehr, Ph.D., is a Senior Scientist in the Department of Neurosurgery at Henry Ford Health and Senior Professor of Research in the Department of Physiology at Michigan State University. His research focuses on cancer epigenomics, bioinformatics, and the development of noninvasive diagnostic approaches for brain tumors. Dr. Noushmehr has made significant contributions to understanding the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms underlying glioma development and progression, including the identification of the glioma CpG island methylator phenotype (G-CIMP). His work integrates large-scale genomic data, computational approaches, and liquid biopsy technologies to advance cancer classification, diagnosis, and precision medicine. He has authored more than 100 scientific publications and has been recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher in Molecular Biology and Genetics.
Publications of Interest