Creative minds turn mistakes into magic, breaking free from rules that stifle their imaginative thinking…
…Our ability to think outside the box is what makes us truly human, an essential and unique part of our humanity.
Individuals may possess inherent differences in their creative aptitude. However, I firmly believe that creativity can be nurtured and developed through diverse educational approaches, including developing the ability of divergent (generating multiple ideas) and convergent (evaluating and refining ideas) thinking, flexibility, and openness to new experiences by venturing outside one's comfort zone.
As a mentor, my foremost objective is to empower my mentee to think innovatively and unlock their creative potential to the fullest by providing guidance and fostering an environment that encourages the cultivation of necessary skills, I aim to support your journey toward becoming a more creative thinker.
Atique Ahmed, Ph.D.
Principal Investegator
atique.ahmed@northwestern.edu
Atique Ahmed holds the position of Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Northwestern University and is a valued member of the Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center. He completed his BSc (Hons) degree at Winona State University in Minnesota and a Ph.D. from the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine. Dr. Ahmed further honed his expertise through postdoctoral training at the University of Chicago.
Dr. Ahmed's contributions have been recognized through prestigious awards, including the National Cancer Institute K99/R00 Career Development Award, the American Cancer Society Research Scholar Award, The Distinguished Young Alumni Award from Winona State University, and the 2021-2022 Outstanding Teacher Award from the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University.
Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Ahmed's upbringing in Dhaka, Bangladesh, has instilled in him a love for travel. He takes pleasure in exploring new places and cultures. In his leisure time, Dr. Ahmed finds joy in cooking and indulging in reading.
Mentorship Philosophy
An unparalleled excitement accompanies the discovery of something entirely new in the realm of science, something that had eluded previous observation. As a principal investigator (PI), my primary objective is cultivating an environment that fosters collaboration among diverse scientists, enabling them to work on projects aligned with their career aspirations and yield impactful scientific outcomes by thinking innovatively and working as a TEAM.
Moreover, I embrace the perspective of "making the mentee become my mentor," acknowledging that as a mentor, I should remain open to learning from my students. Mentorship involves a bidirectional flow of knowledge, where both mentor and mentee can mutually benefit from their interactions.
I understand that each individual's journey is distinct and unparalleled, necessitating a personalized approach to mentorship. Thus, I am committed to crafting customized mentorship plans that cater to each mentee's unique needs, aspirations, and strengths. By providing tailored guidance and support, I aim to assist individuals in navigating their professional paths and achieving their goals.
Throughout their professional journeys, I am dedicated to providing unwavering support and guidance to mentees, fostering an environment where they can thrive and excel.
More about Atique Ahmed
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2011- 2013 Research Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, IL
2013- 2015 Assistant Professor (Tenure-Eligible), Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, IL
2015-2020 Assistant Professor (Tenure-Eligible), Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, IL
2020-23 Associate Professor (Tenured), Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, IL
2023-present Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, IL
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Bachelor of Science May 10, 1997 Minnesota State University, Winona, MN. Field of Discipline: Chemistry, Minor: Biochemistry
Doctor of Philosophy February 23, 2007 Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN Field of Discipline: Molecular Medicine.
Post-doctoral Scholar 2007-2009 Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Field of Discipline: Tumor Biology.
Post-doctoral Scholar 2009-2011 University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Field of Discipline: Neuro-Oncology Research.
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2003 Award of Best Project of the Year in Gene Therapy, American Society of Gene Therapy
2003 Scholar-in-Training Award, American Association of Cancer Research
2012 Huggins Junior Faculty Research Award, Department of Surgery, University of Chicago
2012 NIH/NCI Pathway to Independence Award (K99)
2013 NIH/NCI Pathway to Independence Award (R00)
2015 American Cancer Society Research Scholar Award
2016 NIH/NINDS R01 (Early Stage Investigator Award)
2019 NIH/NINDS R01 (Late Investigator Award)
2019 Distinguish Young Alumni, Minnesota State University, Winona
2021 Outstanding Teacher, Feinberg School of Medicine
2022 Outstanding Teacher, Feinberg School of Medicine
2023 Allen Buckner Kanavel Endowed Professorship, Feinberg School of Medicine
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1997–1998 Research Technologist, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
1998–2000 Research Assistant, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
2000–2002 Senior Research Technologist, Department of Molecular Medicine, MayoClinic, Rochester, MN
2007-2009 Post-doctoral Scholar, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Field of Discipline: Drosophila Genetics, Tumor Biology
2009-2011 Post-doctoral Scholar, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Field of Discipline: Neuro-Oncology Research
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2003 94th Annual Meeting of American Association of Cancer Research, Washington, DC
Title: Generation of novel conditionally replicating adenoviral vector targeted through tumor cell- selective mRNA stabilization
2006 St. Jude’s National Graduate Student Symposium, Memphis, TN
Title: Targeting RAS transformation via tumor cell-selective mRNA stabilization
2010 13th Annual Meeting of American Society of Cell and Gene Therapy, Washington, DC Title: A comparative study of stem cell-based cell carrier systems for the systemic delivery of an oncolytic adenovirus for anti-glioma therapy
2011 Virginia Tech Caroline Research Institute, Roanoke, VA Title: Stem cell as a therapeutic agent for glioblastoma
2013 The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
Title: Neural stem cell-based targeted oncolytic virotherapy
2017 Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Title: Therapy induced plasticity: Hitting the target with your eyes closed
2018 11th International conference on cancer stem cells and oncology research, Dublin, Ireland Title: Therapeutic stress-induced cellular plasticity: A possible new mechanisms of therapeutic resistance in GBM
2019 5th International Conference on Neuro-Oncology and Brain Tumor, Tokyo, Japan
Title: The Role Therapeutic Stress-Induced Cellular Plasticity in Promoting Therapeutic Resistance in GBM (Keynote forum address)
2019 14th European Association of Neuro-Oncology Meeting, Lyon, France
Title: Targeting Purine Metabolism to Overcome Therapeutic Resistance in Glioblastoma
2021 University of Alabama, Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center
Title: Therapy-induced Plasticity in Cancer: Challenge of Hitting a Moving Target
2022 University of Texas Southwestern Medical Cancer Center
Title: Therapy-induced Plasticity in Brain Cancer: Challenge of Hitting Moving Target
2023 University of Texas Southwestern Medical Cancer Center
Title: Countering the Great Escape: Targeting Tumor Cell Plasticity in Glioblastoma
2023 University Clinic Freiburg, Germany
Title: Vis à vis in the Brain: The Neuron-Glia Interface
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Neurobiology 402
Neurobiology 402-Journal Club
Course Director: Tumor Biology, Driskill Graduate Program in Life Sciences
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EDITORIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Review Editor: Frontiers in Neuro-Oncology and Neurosurgical Oncology
Editorial Board Member: Cancer (IF=6.2)
JOURNAL REVIEWER
Nature Communication, Brain, Journal of Clinical Investigation, Journal of Clinical Investigation Insights, Molecular Therapy, Molecular Cancer, Gene Therapy, Cancer Gene Therapy, Stem Cell, Journal of Neuro-Oncology, Clinical Cancer Research, Stem Cell and Development, Oncogene, Cancer Research, Neuroscience, British Journal of Cancer, Journal of Clinical Investigation, Biomaterial, PLOS One
GRANT REVIEW RESPONSIBILITIES
The Neurological Foundation of New Zealand
The Dutch Cancer Society
The French National Research Agency
Ad Hoc Reviewer, Research Councils United Kingdom
Ad Hoc Reviewer, Cellular and Molecular Medicine VA Merit Review Panel
American Brain Tumor Association
The Welcome Trust/DBT India Alliance
LE STUDIUM Loire for Advance Study, France
Science Foundation of Ireland, Ireland
Worldwide Cancer Research, UK
NIH Study Section, Developmental Therapeutic (2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019)
NIH Study Section, ZCA1, NCI SPORE (P50) Review panel (2020)
Canadian Cancer Society, Canada
University of Sharjah, UAE Faculty Project Evaluator
The Swiss National Science Foundation, ad hoc reviewer
The French National Cancer Institute (INCa)
The University of Sharjah, UAE Faculty Project Evaluator
Charter Member, NIH Study Section, Developmental Therapeutic (2020-2024)