Research Interest
Dr. Akhtari is actively involved in the most current phase I through phase III clinical trials through US Oncology research network.
Dr. Akhtari has had extensive experience in research as relating to several different cancers. As a Sarnoff cardiovascular research fellow at Columbia University, he studied how cholesterol can drive hematopoietic stem cells to proliferate, leading to hematologic malignancies down the line such as leukemia.
His work was published in the prestigious Journal of Clinical Investigation. Later on in his residency training, he worked extensively with the Lymphoma group at MD Anderson Cancer Center to build their Hodgkin Lymphoma database and identify factors that can distinguish more aggressive tumors based on their PET-CT. Results of this study were later published in the respected journal of Blood. He also worked extensively with the radiation department at Houston Methodist Hospital looking into the possibility of brachytherapy in patients with breast implants, sarcoidosis in cancer patients, as well as management of non-small cell lung cancer patients and their chemotherapy regimens.
Dr. Akhtari has also advocated for increased research funding by National Institutes of Health and had a resolution passed in AMA calling for that. Currently, he is working to bring his research expertise to Fort Worth. He has several trials in the pipelines for brain tumors (Glioblastoma Multiforme) as well as some potential trials for non-small cell lung cancer.
Other Information
Dr. Akhtari lives in Fort Worth. He is a big fan of the outdoors and when not spending time with his family, he is running or biking by the Trinity River Trail. Sometimes he also takes his Great Pyrenees Keanu along with him as well.