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Research/Career Interests

Identification and characterization of factors that can impact cutaneous wound healing by mobilizing stem cells and understand their molecular mechanisms.

Transcription factor CTIP2 plays essential roles in epidermal homeostasis, barrier formation and cutaneous wound healing. In collaboration with Drs. Leid and Arup Indra in OSU, we are identifying Ctip2-regulated novel genes and signaling pathways in epidermis and hair follicle niches that can promote effective scar free wound healing. Those identified factor will serve as potential therapeutic targets for pharmacological manipulation to accelerate the wound-healing process in human patients and promote efficient wound repair and tissue remodeling.

Identifications of novel therapeutic targets for cancers of head and neck, prostate, lung, pancreas and skin (melanoma)

We have set up various in vitro assays using spectrum of early stage and metastatic cancer cell lines to screen natural compound libraries that are obtained from our OSU Colleagues Dr. Mahmud and Dr. Stevens for potential discovery of novel anti-cancer drug leads.  We will further characterize the identified natural compound(s) and determine their mechanisms of action, by studying their effects on cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, senescence, apoptosis, angiogenesis, inflammation and expression levels of several bio-markers by RT-qPCR western blot and ELISA assay.  

In collaborations with our colleagues we are analyzing the effects of those compounds on cancer stem cell proliferation and survival.

The research combines molecular biology techniques with natural product discovery to develop new therapeutic approaches for both wound healing and cancer treatment.

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Credentials

• Research Associate, IGBMC, Strasbourg-Cédex FRANCE, 2004-2005 
• Postdoctoral Fellow, IGBMC, Strasbourg-Cédex FRANCE, 2001-2003 
• Ph.D., University of Louis Pasteur, FRANCE, 1997-2001 
• Master of Science, Andhra University, India, 1987-1989