I have completed my PhD in Cellular, Molecular and Industrial Biology from the University of Bologna (UNIBO), Italy under Indo-Italian Government fellowship in 2012. After completion of my PhD, I received four and a half years of Postdoctoral training from the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, USA there I worked on Translational Cancer Research. During my Postdoctoral training, I worked on several cancers, including Prostate, Pancreatic, Breast and Head and Neck Cancer. First two and a half years of my postdoctoral training was focused on understanding the molecular mechanism (s) of the regulation of Autophagy and Apoptosis in Cancer Stem Cells (Prostate, Pancreatic and Breast). Specifically, I studied the molecular mechanism (s) of Rottlerin-induced Autophagy in Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) via PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways. Later, I investigated the molecular cross-talk between the tumor microenvironment (Tumor Associated Fibroblast (TAF)) and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) via HGF/c-MET and bFGF/FGFR signaling pathways. In addition, I also worked on intra-tumor mutational heterogeneity in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, developed an in vitro model for Radiation Induced Fibrosis (RIF) in Head and Neck Cancer, molecular mechanism (s) of combination of naturally derived chemo-preventive agents (Curcumin in combination with other anticancer compounds) in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma and the characterization of exosomes released from cancer stem cells (CSCs). My research work has been published in high impact international research journals including Cancer Research [Impact Factor: 9.122], Radiation Research [Impact Factor: 2.775], Oncotarget [Impact Factor: 5.168], JAMA Otolaryngoogy - Head Neck Surgery [Impact Factor: 2.95], Human Molecular Genetics [Impact Factor: 5.985], Cancer Letters [Impact Factor: 6.375], Pharmacology & Therapeutics [Impact Factor: 11.127], Molecular Cancer [Impact Factor: 6.204], Oncogenesis [Impact Factor: 5.1], PLoS One [Impact Factor: 2.806], Biochemical Pharmacology [Impact Factor: 5.009]. Apart from my research, I was also involved in teaching courses of Undergraduate Level (BIOT223-Basics of Cancer), Postgraduate Level (MMBS602: Gene Expression & Regulation, MMBS610: Topics in Bioinformatics, MMBS702: Computational Tools in Drug Discovery, SCCB710: OMICS in Biomedical Sciences, SCCB601: Animal Cell Culture & Cell Engineering, SCCB603: Genome Engineering & Editing, SCCB705: Preventive Oncology & Psycho-Oncology) and PhD Level (BIOT 953: Advances in Cancer Research).

 Translational Cancer Research  Cancer Stem Cell  Drug Discovery  Tumor Microenvironment  Molecular Immunology  Cellular Aging  Autophagy  Neurodegenerative Disease  Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)  Bioinformatics