Arup Indra, Ph.D. (Primary Investigator)

Professor of Pharmacology at OSU, Associate Professor (Adjunct) in the Department of Dermatology at OHSU, Member of the Consortium for Natural Products Drug Discovery

Research interests:

  • Finding novel cancer biomarkers used for earlier diagnosis and prediction of disease progression in human head and neck cancers
  • Creating nanobiosensors used for earlier diagnosis and prediction of human cancers
  • Identifying changes in lipid profiles from patients with eczema, atopic dermatitis, and allergic contact dermatitis using lipidomic analysis
  • Characterizing novel signature alterations and mutations during both spontaneous and UV-induced melanoma progression in humans for better diagnosis and treatment options
  • Identifying novel signals through microRNA profiles in differing skin cells of psoriasis patients

Contact: Arup.Indra@oregonstate.edu

Gitali Ganguli-Indra, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Pharmacology

Research interests:

  • Identifying and characterizing factors that can impact cutaneous wound healing through the mobilization of stem cells as well as the understanding of their molecular mechanisms
  • Identifying novel therapeutic targets for cancers of the head,neck, prostate, lung, pancreas, and skin

Contact: Gitali.Indra@oregonstate.edu

Ebunoluwa Mercy Morakinyo

Undergraduate Student from the Honors College and College of Science, studying Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with Pre-Medicine option. Plans to pursue a medical degree and hopefully train to become a physician-scientist.

Research Interest:

  • Determine function of stem cells in hair cycling and immune-cells during wound healing.
  • Characterization of nanofiber mediated delivery and sustained release of bioactive molecules (BAMs) with anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties and ability to promote wound healing.   

Contact: morakine@oregonstate.edu

 

Cara Baboyan

Undergraduate Student from the Honors College and College of Science majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Joined the lab in 2021 through a competitive URSA engage program. Plans to pursue a Pharmacy degree and hopefully train to become a clinical Pharmacist in Pharmaceutical Industry.  

Research Interest:

  • Isolation and  characterization of extracellular vesicles (EVs) including exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells for therapeutic interventions against cancer in feline and canine species.
  • Loading of stem cells derived exosomes with chemotherapeutic drugs and determine their function in reducing cardiotoxicity and enhancing selectivity.

Contact: baboyaca@oregonstate.edu

Anna Nielsen

Undergraduate Student from the Honors College and College of Science majoring in Biology. Joined the lab in 2021 through a competitive URSA engage program. Plans to pursue an advanced degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences and/or medicine. 

Research Interest:

  • Screening of bioactive natural compounds isolated from meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba), hemp (Cannabis sativa) and ayurvedic plants such as ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) to establish their anti-cancer, anti-ageing, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties.   

Contact: nielsann@oregonstate.edu

Sofia Dixon

Undergraduate Student from the Honors College and College of Science majoring in Bio-health Science. Joined the lab in 2021 through a competitive URSA engage program. Plans to pursue an advanced degree in Pharmaceutical  Sciences and/or medicine. 

Research Interest:

  • Identify and characterize new mechanisms of signaling between epithelial, endothelial and immune cells during wound healing and tissue remodeling.

Contact: dixonso@oregonstate.edu

Sai Singh

Undergraduate Student, Lab assistant from the College of Science, BioHealth Science Major

Research Interest:

  • Characterizing animal models of human skin diseases with pigmentation disorder e.g. vitiligo and those with increased susceptibility to UV-induced melanoma development.

Contact: singhsai@oregonstate.edu