University at Buffalo (UB)
Ekrem Maloku MD., M.M.S.
Ekrem Maloku
MD., M.M.S.
Clinical Assistant Professor
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Anatomic Pathology; Autopsy; Brain Tumor; Education; Histology; Medical Education Research; Neuropathology; Neuroscience; Pathophysiology; Pathophysiology; Surgical Pathology
Professional Summary:
As a Clinical Neuropathologist I provide diagnostic services for different neurological diseases and in a close collaboration with other team members I help to choose the best available therapy for the patients. I spent several years doing Neuroscience research followed by a Residency clinical training in Pathology and Clinical Fellowship in Neuropathology. The majority of my work is focused on central and peripheral nervous system tumors. In addition to clinical responsibilities, I am very interested in further research and elucidate mechanisms in tumorigenesis and further improve patient care. I am also involved in autopsy service and also teaching Pathology to medical students at Jacobs School of Medicine, as well as serving as an Attending Physician and training of Pathology residents at Buffalo General Medical Center.
I am a Diplomate of the American Board of Pathology (ABPath).
Education and Training:
- Fellowship, Clinical Neuropathology, New York University Langone and Grossman School of Medicine (2019)
- Residency, Anatomic Pathology Clinical Residency, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Geisel School of Medicine (2016)
- MS, Medicine, University of Prishtina/University of Illinois at Chicago (2011)
- Certificate, Education Commission of Foreign Medical Graduates (2008)
- MD, Medical Doctor, University of Prishtina, School of Medicine, Magna Cum Laude (2001)
Employment:
- Clinical Assistant Professor, Pathology, University at Buffalo and Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (2022-present)
- Lecturer, Masters in Management of Health Institutions, German-Kosovan Heimerer College of Health Sciences (2016–2022)
- Neuropathology Consultant, "Nucleus" Pathology laboratory, Prishtine, Kosovo (2020–2021)
- Instructor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Pathology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth (2019–2020)
- Research Associate, Neurology, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Geisel School of Medicine (2011–2013)
- Post-doctoral Research Associate, Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago Institute of Psychiatry (2004–2010)
- Teaching Assistant, Physical medicine and Rehabilation, University of Prishtina, School of Medicine (2002–2004)
Awards and Honors:
- "Teacher of the Year", German-Kosovan Heimerer College of Health Sciences (2021)
- "Distinguished Student" Magna Cum Laude, University Of Prishtina, School of Medicine (2000)
Research Expertise:
- Brain tumors
- Epigenetics
- Neuropathology
Journal Articles:
- Galbraith K, Vasudevaraja V, Serrano J, Shen G, Tran I, Abdallat N, Wen M, Patel S, Movahed-Ezazi M, Faustin A, Spino-Keeton M, Roberts LG, Maloku E, Drexler SA, Liechty BL, Pisapia D, Krasnozhen-Ratush O, Rosenblum M, Shroff S, Boué DR, Davidson C, Mao Q, Suchi M, North P, Hopp A, Segura A, Jarzembowski JA, Parsons L, Johnson MD, Mobley B, Samore W, McGuone D, Gopal PP, Canoll PD, Horbinski C, Fullmer JM, Farooqui MS, Gokden M, Wadhwani NR, Richardson TE, Umphlett M, Tsankova NM, DeWitt JC, Sen C, Placantonakis DG, Pacione D, Wisoff JH, Teresa Hidalgo E, Harter D, William CM, Cordova C, Kurz SC, Barbaro M, Orringer DA, Karajannis MA, Sulman EP, Gardner SL, Zagzag D, Tsirigos A, Allen JC, Golfinos JG, Snuderl M. (2023) Clinical utility of whole-genome DNA methylation profiling as a primary molecular diagnostic assay for central nervous system tumors-A prospective study and guidelines for clinical testing. Neuro-oncology advances (Jan), 5(1): vdad076. doi:10.1093/noajnl/vdad076
- Karajannis MA, Mauguen A, Maloku E, Xu Q, Dunbar EM, Plotkin SR, Yaffee A, Wang S, Roland JT, Sen C, Placantonakis DG, Golfinos JG, Allen JC, Vitanza NA, Chiriboga LA, Schneider RJ, Deng J, Neubert TA, Goldberg JD, Zagzag D, Giancotti FG, Blakeley JO. (2021) Phase 0 Clinical Trial of Everolimus in Patients with Vestibular Schwannoma or Meningioma. Molecular cancer therapeutics (Sep), 20(9): 1584-1591. doi:10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-21-0143
- Ekrem Maloku, Eric Loo. (2020) Erdheim-Chester Disease: A review of molecular genetic and clinical features. (Nov), 3(1)
- Patel S, Pacione D, Fischer I, Maloku E, Agrawal N. (2019) FOLLICLE-STIMULATING HORMONE-PRODUCING PITUITARY ADENOMA: A CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE. AACE clinical case reports (Jan), 5(3): e175-e180. doi:10.4158/ACCR-2018-0454
- Gavazaj FQ, Mikerezi II, Morina VH, Cakaj FA, Maloku EB, Gavazaj BB, Kastrati DS, Duriqi-Maloku BA. (2012) Optimization of DNA concentration to amplify short tandem repeats of human genomic DNA. Bosnian journal of basic medical sciences (Nov), 12(4): 236-9. doi:10.17305/bjbms.2012.2444
- Maloku E, Kadriu B, Zhubi A, Dong E, Pibiri F, Satta R, Guidotti A. (2011) Selective a4ß2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists target epigenetic mechanisms in cortical GABAergic neurons. Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (Jun), 36(7): 1366-74. doi:10.1038/npp.2011.21
- Maloku E, Covelo IR, Hanbauer I, Guidotti A, Kadriu B, Hu Q, Davis JM, Costa E. (2010) Lower number of cerebellar Purkinje neurons in psychosis is associated with reduced reelin expression. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (Mar), 107(9): 4407-11. doi:10.1073/pnas.0914483107
- Hanbauer I, Rivero-Covelo I, Maloku E, Baca A, Hu Q, Hibbeln JR, Davis JM. (2009) The Decrease of n-3 Fatty Acid Energy Percentage in an Equicaloric Diet Fed to B6C3Fe Mice for Three Generations Elicits Obesity. Cardiovascular psychiatry and neurology (Jan), 2009: 867041. doi:10.1155/2009/867041
- Costa E, Chen Y, Dong E, Grayson DR, Kundakovic M, Maloku E, Ruzicka W, Satta R, Veldic M, Zhubi A, Guidotti A. (2009) GABAergic promoter hypermethylation as a model to study the neurochemistry of schizophrenia vulnerability. Expert review of neurotherapeutics (Jan), 9(1): 87-98.
- Satta R, Maloku E, Zhubi A, Pibiri F, Hajos M, Costa E, Guidotti A. (2008) Nicotine decreases DNA methyltransferase 1 expression and glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 promoter methylation in GABAergic interneurons. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (Oct), 105(42): 16356-61. doi:10.1073/pnas.0808699105
- Veldic M, Kadriu B, Maloku E, Agis-Balboa RC, Guidotti A, Davis JM, Costa E. (2007) Epigenetic mechanisms expressed in basal ganglia GABAergic neurons differentiate schizophrenia from bipolar disorder. Schizophrenia research (Mar), 91(1-3): 51-61. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2006.11.029
- Agís-Balboa RC, Pinna G, Zhubi A, Maloku E, Veldic M, Costa E, Guidotti A. (2006) Characterization of brain neurons that express enzymes mediating neurosteroid biosynthesis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (Sep), 103(39): 14602-7. doi:10.1073/pnas.0606544103
- Simonini MV, Camargo LM, Dong E, Maloku E, Veldic M, Costa E, Guidotti A. (2006) The benzamide MS-275 is a potent, long-lasting brain region-selective inhibitor of histone deacetylases. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (Jan), 103(5): 1587-92. doi:10.1073/pnas.0510341103
- Veldic M, Guidotti A, Maloku E, Davis JM, Costa E. (2005) In psychosis, cortical interneurons overexpress DNA-methyltransferase 1. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (Feb), 102(6): 2152-7. doi:10.1073/pnas.0409665102
Professional Memberships:
- New York Pathological Society (2022–present)
- Kosovo Chamber of Physicians (2021–present)
- United States and Canadian Association of Pathology (2015–present)
- American Medical Association (2013–present)
Presentations:
- "ADVANCES IN BRAIN TUMOR NEUROPATHOLOGICAL DIAGNOSTICS WITH FOCUS ON MOLECULAR ALTERATIONS AND PERSONALIZED TREATMENT APPROACH." KOSOVO PHARMACY CHAMBER CONGRESS, May 6-7, 2022, Prishtina, KOSOVO
- "In the world of rare brain neoplasms" UNIVERSITY OF PRISHTINA, DEAN'S OFFICE/SCHOOL OF MEDICINE CONFERENCE, 01/2021
- "Practicing in the era of precision medicine, focus on brain tumors" KOSOVO PHYSICIAN CHAMBER ANNUAL CONGRESS. 10/2021
- "Precision Medicine and crucial role of integrated patient care" KOSOVO COLLEGE OF SURGEONS, 1ST INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS
- "Precision medicine and treatment approaches in glioblastoma" PRISHTINA UNIVERSITY CLINICAL CENTER/SCHOOL OF MEDICINE CONFERENCE SE
- "Reviewing some of the updates included in the last edition of the WHO-focus on gliomas" University of Prishtina-School of Medicine
Service Activities:
- Providing surgical Pathology/Neuropathology diagnostic services for pediatric and adult . population. I also serve as a director of Autopsy Service at BGH.; Attending Physician Neuropathology and Director of Autopsy service (2022–present)
- ; Clinical Assistant Professor University at Buffalo and Jacobs School of Medicine (2022–present)
- I regularly participate in tumor board meetings(pediatric and adult) as well as Neuroendocrine conference meetings and contributing in patient care as a part of the team; Neuropathologist (2022–present)
- Teaching Jacob's Medical School Students rotating in Department of Pathology.; Attending Neuropathologist (2022–present)