Khadijeh Bijangi-Vishehsaraei, MSC, PhD

Dr. Khadijeh (Sholeh) Bijangi-Vishehsaraei, PhD currently works with Dr. Jamie Renbarger, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology section in the Department of Pediatrics, on a number of translational and collaborative research projects. Her career path has been driven by her passion for uncovering molecular mechanisms involved in the dysregulated signaling pathways that drive tumorigenesis. Dr. Bijangi-Vishehsaraei is working with both basic scientists and clinicians on investigations focused on the rational use of precision medicine-based strategies for treatment of children with relapsed solid tumors. She is trained in Hematology, Biochemistry and Molecular biology and is currently a member of a multi-institutional team that is combining genomics, proteomics, cellomics, and clinical factors to develop improved prediction algorithms in children with cancer. The ultimate goal is to use this information to identify simple, robust and practical clinical predictors/biomarkers of response as well as short- and long-term toxicities in individual patients that can be used to optimize dosing in the treatment of children, many of whom have incurable malignancies. She is also is senior scientist and technical scientific coordinator of CCRC/Translational Research Integrated Biology Lab. In this role, Dr. Bijangi-Vishehsaraei is developing a well-annotated and functional database system for patient tissue/ cell samples for genomic research studies in children with cancer with a specific focus on optimizing therapy. Dr. Bijangi-Vishehsaraei is also involved in the NIH/NICHD-funded U54 translational sarcoma research program, the Indiana University Center for Pediatric Pharmacology and Precision Medicine (PI-Renbarger). In this program, Dr. Bijangi-Vishehsaraei also works closely with Dr. Karen Pollok on a clinic-to-bench research approach focused on mechanistic and efficacy studies in 3D-cellular models and in vivo models of pediatric Ewing’s Sarcoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma, Osteosarcoma and brain tumors.