Wajd N Al-Holou, MD

Wajd N. Al-Holou
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery and Co-Director, CNS Tumor Registry
Medical School
University of Michigan
Neurosurgery
1500 E. Medical Center Drive, 3470 Taubman Center
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5338
[email protected]
Available to mentor
Wajd N Al-Holou, MD
Wajd N. Al-Holou
Assistant Professor
  • Qualifications
  • Recent Publications
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  • Qualifications

    • Clinical Fellow
      University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Neurosurgical Oncology, United States
      2016 - 2017
      Postdoctoral Fellowship
    • Residency
      University of Michigan, Neurosurgery, Ann Arbor, United States
      2009 - 2016
      Residency
    • Chief Resident
      University of Michigan, Neurosurgery, Ann Arbor, USA
      2015 - 2016
      Chief Resident
    • MD
      University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
      2004 - 2009
    • BS
      University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, United States
      2000 - 2003

    Recent Publications

    See All Publications
    • Proceeding / Abstract / Poster
      The prevalence and natural history of pineal cysts in adults
      Terman S, Al-Holou WN, Kilburg C, Garton HJL, Maher CO. 2011 Apr 4;
    • Journal Article
      393 THY1: A Therapeutically Targetable Mediator of Treatment Resistance in H3K27M Pediatric Tumors
      Syed S, Tripathy A, Ji S, Alomary Y, de la Nava Martin D, Mota M, Chakravarthy R, Huang D-L, Wang Z, Li Z, Zhang Q, Lawrence T, Wahl D, Koschmann C, Venneti S, Rehemtulla A, Al-Holou W. Neurosurgery, 2026 Mar 17; 72 (Supplement_1): 109 - 109. DOI:10.1227/neu.0000000000003964_393
    • Journal Article
      Minimizing the risks of stereotactic brain biopsy in suspected central nervous system lymphoma: a retrospective database study.
      Li A, Saleh S, Sharba N, Guivatchian E, Sagher O, Sullivan SE, Heth JA, Hollon TC, Thompson BG, Pandey AS, Umemura Y, Al-Holou WN. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol, 2026 Mar 26; 152 (3): DOI:10.1007/s00432-026-06458-0
      PMID: PMC13022213
    • Journal Article
      A blueprint for local and distal glioblastoma invasion programs
      Chanoch-Myers R, Hara T, Greenwald AC, Hoefflin R, Bussema L, Weisman HR, Nieblas-Bedolla E, Gurramkonda J, Bekezhankyzy Z, Jucht A, Fernandez E, Spitzer A, Hon Fung J, Biella C, Al-Holou W, Camelo-Piragua S, Behnan J, Galli R, Wakimoto H, Suva ML, Tirosh I. Nature Communications, 2026 Mar 12; DOI:10.1038/s41467-026-70470-8
    • Preprint
      MIF-mediated reprogramming of myeloid lineage within the glioma tumor microenvironment impacts the efficacy of immune stimulatory gene therapy.
      Zhu Z, Kanis NC, George AE, Albdewi M, Li Y, Mujeeb AA, McClellan BL, Singh G, Liu J, Al-Holou WN, Heth JA, Welch JD, Lathia JD, Lowenstein PR, Bucala R, Castro MG. 2026 Jan 14; DOI:10.64898/2026.01.13.699283
      PMID: 41648606
    • Journal Article
      Digital twins for in vivo metabolic flux estimations in patients with brain cancer
      Meghdadi B, Al-Holou WN, Scott AJ, Mittal A, Liang N, Sravya P, Achreja A, O’Brien A, Do K, Wu Z, Feng J, Qi NR, Tarnal V, Venneti S, Miller CR, Sarkaria JN, Zhou W, Lawrence TS, Lyssiotis CA, Wahl DR, Nagrath D. Cell Metabolism, 2026 Jan 6; 38 (1): 228 - 246.e17. DOI:10.1016/j.cmet.2025.10.022
      PMID: 41330373
    • Preprint
      Adaptive nuclear GTP synthesis promotes glioblastoma treatment resistance and is a targetable vulnerability in patients.
      Scott AJ, Liang N, Al-Holou WN, Xu J, O'Brien A, Lin A, Pareek V, Sha Z, Zhao Z, Yang JZ, Yang A, Kothari AU, Wilder-Romans K, Wu Z, Feng J, Korimerla N, Elaimy A, Palavalasa S, Chen J, Wang L, Zhang L, Andren AC, Sajjakulnukit P, Marini B, Heth JA, Morgan MA, Lawrence TS, Benkovic SJ, Nagrath D, Chandrasekaran S, Qi NR, Sun D, Wen B, Pai MP, Clarke N, Suresh K, Umemura Y, Lyssiotis CA, Zhou W, Wahl DR. 2025 Nov 13; DOI:10.1101/2025.11.11.25340023
      PMID: 41292630
    • Journal Article
      EPCO-49. SPATIAL TRANSCRIPTOMICS ILLUMINATES MECHANISMS OF MONOTHERAPY FAILURE IN GLIOBLASTOMA BY MAPPING TARGET EXPRESSION ACROSS TUMOR REGIONS
      Kiziltug E, Ravikumar V, Kulkarni R, Maddox A, Al-Holou W. Neuro-Oncology, 2025 Nov 12; 27 (Supplement_5): v13 - v13. DOI:10.1093/neuonc/noaf201.0048
      PMID: PMC12600365

    Featured News & Stories

    Department News

    Brain cancer digital twin predicts treatment outcomes

    A new machine-learning-based approach to mapping real-time tumor metabolism in brain cancer patients, developed at the University of Michigan, could help doctors discover which treatment strategies are most likely to be effective against individual cases of glioma.
    doctor talking to patient in clinic in white coat
    Health Lab

    I've been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Now what?

    Facing a brain tumor diagnosis can be an overwhelming experience, but it’s essential to gather information that will help guide the next steps in your care. University of Michigan Health neurosurgeon Wajd Al-Holou, M.D., weighs in on the importance of understanding the diagnosis, exploring various treatment options and seeking the best medical care.
    woman smiling after brain surgery with brain wrapped in white cloth and in blue hospital gown on grey background
    Health Lab

    Aggressive brain cancer doesn’t stop woman’s positive perspective

    Despite a devastating diagnosis of glioblastoma, Chris Barry is thankful for her family, friends and the care she’s receiving at Michigan Medicine.
    older daughter hugging and kissing her mom outside with blue sky by a rock
    Health Lab

    After daughter’s brain surgery, mom sells art to raise money for cancer research 

    Nearly four and half years after her daughter’s lifesaving surgery to remove a glioma, a Michigan artist continues to raise money towards research for the treatment of cancerous brain tumors by selling her work.