P.J. Cimino, MD, PhD, is a pathologist–scientist specializing in the molecular and translational biology of high-grade diffuse gliomas. As a board-certified neuropathologist, he integrates clinical expertise in diagnostic anatomic and molecular pathology with a research program focused on uncovering the biological mechanisms that drive aggressive brain tumors. His work spans human tumor specimens and experimental model systems, with the goal of improving tumor classification, identifying therapeutic vulnerabilities and advancing precision neuro-oncology.
Dr. Cimino received his MD and PhD in neurobiology and behavior through the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Washington. He completed residency training in anatomic pathology and fellowship training in neuropathology at Washington University in St. Louis. He previously held faculty positions at the University of Washington and served as a physician–scientist in the Surgical Neurology Branch at the National Institutes of Health, where he led the Neuropathology Unit. He is currently the Endowed Chair in Molecular Neuropathology at the Children’s National Research Institute and an associate professor of pathology and pediatrics at George Washington University.
A major focus of Dr. Cimino’s research is the role of developmentally regulated HOX genes in glioma. His work has shown that aberrant HOX activation defines clinically and biologically distinct subsets of diffuse gliomas and contributes to tumor growth, therapeutic resistance, and disease progression. His laboratory combines computational multi-omics with experimental models to define how specific HOX programs shape tumor behavior, including in pediatric high-grade gliomas such as diffuse midline glioma.
In parallel, his research has uncovered a novel role for phosphodiesterases (PDEs) in brain tumor biology. His group identified PDE10A as a tumor suppressor in glioblastoma and demonstrated its role in regulating oncogenic signaling pathways and cellular state transitions. Ongoing work continues to explore PDEs as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Dr. Cimino has also contributed to the discovery and validation of molecular biomarkers that refine glioma classification and prognostication. His work on genomic alterations, including copy number signatures, has helped inform modern diagnostic frameworks and underscores the importance of integrating molecular data into clinical care and clinical trial design.
Through the integration of diagnostic neuropathology, genomics and experimental modeling, Dr. Cimino’s research aims to advance biologically informed and clinically impactful approaches to brain tumor treatment.
