Serendipity Z Rinonos

Serendipity Z Rinonos, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor, Neuro-Oncologist / Principal Investigator, Neuro-Oncology Laboratories

Department: MD-NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY
Business Phone: (352) 294-8137

About Serendipity Z Rinonos

Greetings, my name is Serendipity Zapanta Rinonos, MD, PhD. I am a board-certified neurologist and scientist, diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, specializing in neuro-oncology. My clinical practice is focused on providing innovative, compassionate care for adult patients with primary brain tumors. In addition, I am principal investigator of an independent laboratory, which is part of the Adam Michael Rosen Neuro-Oncology Laboratories at UF.

The mission statement of my laboratory is to harness epigenetics and molecular biological phenomena to develop innovative, targeted molecular therapeutics for malignant brain tumors. Within my first year as a faculty member, in 2024 I was also awarded grant support as the top-scoring “K Scholar” of the UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute, to fund my current research initiatives. Clinically, my mission statement is to ensure my patients receive the most comprehensive, compassionate care possible, partnering with them to achieve the best possible outcomes. It is my passion to provide a “therapeutic educational experience” for my patients at every visit. This means that we specifically aim to meet every patient where they are conceptually, guiding them into a true understanding of their diagnosis and treatment options. The goal is to transform complex clinical concepts into accessible information, so that patients feel empowered to make truly informed decisions about their care.

Coming from a family of New Yorkers, I grew up in Manhattan, then moved to Richmond, Virginia, where I graduated from The Governor’s School for Government and International Studies. Returning to New York, I then completed my undergraduate studies in three years with honors from Cornell University as a Howard Hughes Research Scholar, completing my honors thesis research in the department of neurobiology. I received my doctor of medicine degree and doctor of philosophy degree in cell biology from the Medical Scientist Training Program at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. While at CWRU, I was also awarded an NIH T32 neuroscience predoctoral training grant.

Afterward, I moved back to Virginia to complete residency training in neurology at the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals/VCU Health System, serving the city and community that fostered the initial launch of my professional career. During residency, I received multiple awards, including the American Academy of Neurology’s “Futures in Neurologic Research” award.

I then completed my clinical and research fellowship training in neuro-oncology at the University of California, Los Angeles, where I received two research grants/awards: the NIH T32 Tumor Biology Postdoctoral Research Award and the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center Postdoctoral Award. My neuro-oncology clinical mentors at UCLA were Dr. Timothy Cloughesy, Dr. Albert Lai and Dr. Leia Nghiemphu. While at UCLA, in the laboratory of Albert Lai, MD, PhD, together with senior scientist Tie Li, MD, PhD, I secured a provisional patent for our research developing targeted epigenetic editing as a novel therapeutic approach for malignant glioma. The goal is to ultimately translate this novel therapeutic strategy into clinical trials.

In my free time, I enjoy various modes of creative expression, including music, writing prose and poetry, drawing and painting, as well as playing musical duets and ensembles with family. I have been a lifelong concert violinist since the age of three, and my debut performance was at the United Nations Headquarters in New York at the age of four, with subsequent solo and orchestral performances throughout the U.S. and internationally. While in medical school, I also founded the Case Med String Quartet, a group of medical students and resident musicians performing for patients in hospitals and hospices in Cleveland. As a writer, I received several awards over the years, including the Cornell University Knight Institute Writing Prize for my essay, “The Violin Over Brain and Body,” integrating both neuroscience and musical passions.

Accomplishments

K12 Translational Research Grant Scholar, Clinical and Translational Science Institute
2024-2026 · University of Florida, College of Medicine
NIH T32 Tumor Biology Training Program, Postdoctoral Research Award
2022-2023 · UCLA Medical Center
PCT Patent Application, Serial No. PCT/US23/82044 (Filed on Dec 1, 2023); U.S. Provision Patent Application No. 63/429,348 (Filed on Dec 1, 2022) “Targeted Epigenetic Editing As Novel Therapy for Malignant Glioma”
2022-2023 · Inventors: Tie Li, Albert Lai, Serendipity Zapanta Rinonos, Sean T. Pianka
Postdoctoral Research Award
2021-2022 · UCLA Medical Center, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
"Futures in Neurologic Research" Award
2020 · American Academy of Neurology
Howard Hughes Research Scholar
2001 · Cornell University

Board Certifications

  • Adult Neurology
    American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

Clinical Profile

Specialties
  • Neuro-Oncology
Areas of Interest
  • Adult Brain Tumors
  • Brain Tumors
  • Glioblastoma multiforme
  • MRI
  • Meningioma

Research Profile

Areas of Interest
  • Biochemistry and Cell Biology
  • Brain Tumors
  • Cancer Genetics
  • Cancer epigenetics
  • Molecular Biology of Cancer

Publications

Academic Articles
2024
D-2-HG Inhibits IDH1mut Glioma Growth via FTO Inhibition and Resultant m6A Hypermethylation.
Cancer research communications. 4(3):876-894 [DOI] 10.1158/2767-9764.CRC-23-0271. [PMID] 38445960.
2024
dCas9/CRISPR-based methylation of O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase enhances chemosensitivity to temozolomide in malignant glioma.
Journal of neuro-oncology. 166(1):129-142 [DOI] 10.1007/s11060-023-04531-z. [PMID] 38224404.
2023
A single-institution retrospective analysis of pathologically determined malignant transformation in IDH mutant glioma patients.
Neuro-oncology advances. 5(1) [DOI] 10.1093/noajnl/vdad036. [PMID] 37152809.
2023
Retrospective examination of pseudoprogression in IDH mutant gliomas.
Neuro-oncology advances. 5(1) [DOI] 10.1093/noajnl/vdad028. [PMID] 37128507.
2022
Prognostic value of O 6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase methylation in isocitrate dehydrogenase mutant gliomas.
Neuro-oncology advances. 4(1) [DOI] 10.1093/noajnl/vdac030. [PMID] 35386566.
2014
Sequential logic of polarity determination during the haploid-to-diploid transition in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Eukaryotic cell. 13(11):1393-402 [DOI] 10.1128/EC.00161-14. [PMID] 25172767.
2012
Flow cytometry-based purification of S. cerevisiae zygotes.
Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE. (67) [DOI] 10.3791/4197. [PMID] 23023110.

Grants

Jun 2023 ACTIVE
UF Health Cancer Center Support Grant
Role: Project Manager
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NCI

Education

Neuro-Oncology Fellowship (Clinical and Research)
2020-2023 · UCLA Neuro-Oncology
Neurology Residency
2017-2020 · Medical College of Virginia, VCU Health Systems
Internal Medicine Internship
2016-2017 · Medical College of Virginia, VCU Health Systems
Neurosurgery Residency
2014-2016 · Medical College of Virginia, VCU Health Systems
M.D.
2014 · Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Medical Scientist Training Program
Ph.D.
2013 · Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Medical Scientist Training Program
B.A., Cum Laude, (accelerated, 3 years), Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Research Scholar
1999-2002 · Cornell University, College of Arts & Sciences

Contact Details

Phones:
Business:
(352) 294-8137
Addresses:
Business Street:
PO Box 100265
Department of Neurosurgery
GAINESVILLE FL 32610