For Nicholas “Nick” Cho, an ABTA summer fellowship solidified his interest in becoming a physician-scientist in neuroradiology. Now on track to graduate with an MD/PhD from UCLA-Caltech, Nick is pedaling ahead with an annual event to empower researchers during Brain Tumor Awareness Month.
A clear path
The son of two engineers, it’s no surprise Nick took an interest in engineering as well. But it was his late uncle, Daniel Cho, who worked as an MRI technologist for over 15 years, that inspired Nick to dedicate his life to neuroradiology.
“His compassion and his empathy for the patients really made me want to pursue a career in healthcare,” Nick said.
While earning his bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Columbia University, Nick started his career performing functional MRI research in the lab of Dr. Andrei Holodny, MD, Chief of the Neuroradiology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Nick then pursued the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at UCLA-Caltech. That’s where he started his PhD in UCLA’s Brain Tumor Imaging Laboratory under the mentorship of Dr. Ben Ellingson, PhD, Director of MRI Research and Professor of Radiology within the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Ellingson is currently a member of the ABTA Scientific Advisory Council and a past recipient of an ABTA Research Collaboration Grant.
Through Ellingson’s mentorship, Nick applied for and received a 2021 ABTA Jack & Fay Netchin Medical Student Summer Fellowship, a $3,000 grant awarded to medical students who plan to do summer research under an esteemed mentor–and to encourage them to pursue a career in neuro-oncology.
Nick’s project looked at the metabolism (the process by which cells get energy) of IDH–mutant gliomas using a new MRI-based biomarker called “Aerobic Glycolytic Imaging (AGI),” developed in Dr. Ellingson’s lab.
“IDH-mutant gliomas have a better prognosis compared to IDH-wildtype and they also tend to affect a younger patient population,” he said. “So, we asked, ‘Can we diagnose this specific type of glioma in patients using imaging features alone without the need for tissue biopsy—and how can we use advanced MRI techniques to better understand the tumor microenvironment?’”
Nick also wanted to see how targeted therapies that block the mutant IDH would change the imaging characteristics of IDH-mutant gliomas. His findings showed that diffusion and perfusion MRI may be useful for early assessment of IDH-inhibitor treatment response.
“Increasing what we know about these tumors can really help guide clinical decision-making in the future, especially with the possibility of targeted therapies for patients.”
Nick said his summer fellowship helped him gain firsthand experience and skills that made him a better scientist.
“It really empowered me to become a future physician-scientist in brain tumor imaging,” he said. “And the work I did as an ABTA fellow allowed me to travel to conferences where I could meet new mentors from across the country and be exposed to new research areas and opportunities.”
Giving back
Grateful for his experience, Nick decided to “pay it forward.”
He combined his passion for neuroradiology and cycling into his first UCLA-Caltech MSTP Bike Week for Brain Tumor Research in 2022. The week-long fundraiser, organized through the ABTA’s Fundraise Your Way program, takes place every May during Brain Tumor Awareness Month. Proceeds help support the next generation of researchers through the ABTA Grant Program.
After a successful first year, Nick added a prize in 2023 to award the cyclist with the most miles. This year, he’s partnering with a local coffee shop, Bonsai Coffee Bar, to expand the event’s reach.
“I’m so lucky to have my MSTP directors and many friends who’ve helped support and organize the event, because it’s not just one person behind it,” Nick said. “The fact that it has become an annual tradition now is so rewarding to see…every year it just gets better and better.”
Nick says that widespread support of brain tumor research is key to moving the needle.
“It allows us to continue to advance our understanding of this disease that’s very challenging to cure, and ultimately, to improve the lives of patients,” he said.
The 2024 UCLA-Caltech Bike Week takes place virtually Sunday, May 19 – Sunday, May 26. The in-person, 11-mile Group Beach Ride & Beach Day takes place Saturday, May 25 at Will Rogers State Beach in Los Angeles.
A bright future
Nick is slated to defend his dissertation soon and return to medical school this summer to finish his MD/PhD program. In the future, he is interested in a research-track radiology residency, a fellowship in neuroradiology, and to continue brain tumor imaging research.
This past year, Nick was selected as the first-ever medical student to serve as an Editorial Fellow for the American Journal of Neuroradiology (AJNR), where he has spearheaded diversity-based award initiatives.
This month, Nick also published research on a novel technology his lab developed to perform “pseudo-resting-state” functional MRI analyses in glioma patients using clinical perfusion MRI scans, which Nick says can increase patient access to advanced imaging for studying brain function. A provisional patent has been filed.
Nick and Dr. Ellingson are also Host Committee members planning the 2024 Los Angeles Breakthrough for Brain Tumors 5K. You can meet them Saturday, October 26 at Tongva Park in Santa Monica, CA. Learn more here.
Author: Jessie Schlacks
