Molecular and biological characterization of oncogenes involved in leukemia and solid tumors.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION:

1.      Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.): Honours in Zoology with Botany and Chemistry as elective subjects from 1988 to 1991, Calcutta University, India.

2.      Master of Science (M.Sc.):  Marine Sciences with specialization in Marine Microbiology from 1992 to 1993, Calcutta University, India. 

Title of M.Sc Dissertation: "Bacteriological study of Tiger Prawn (Penaeus monodon) in the Sunderbans Mangrove fringe environment, West Bengal, India."  

This study included the identification of bacteria present in Penaeus monodon by conventional microbiology and also investigating the bacterial load of the ponds where the prawns are cultured. 

3. Pre-Doctoral Research work: Department of Marine Sciences, Calcutta University and National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Calcutta from April 1994 to April 1995.      

      This study included the isolation of microorganisms present in the brackish water of Sunderbans, West Bengal, India. The isolated microorganisms were further characterized for the uptake of heavy metals like mercury, cobalt, lead and nickel as this area is contaminated with the municipal and industrial wastes. 

4.      Ph.D in Science (Microbiology): National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Calcutta, under the supervision of Dr. G. Balakrish Nair, former Deputy Director (presently Director of LSD of ICDDR,B) and Dr. J. Khanam, Reader, Jadavpur University from 1996 to 1999. Awarded in 2001.

Title of Ph.D Thesis:  Molecular ecology of toxigenic Vibrio cholerae.

FELLOWSHIP AWARDED:
 

1. Junior Research Fellowship from the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India, from April 1994 to April 1995.
2. Junior Research Fellowship from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, from 1996 to 1998.
3. Senior Research Fellowship from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Government of India from 1998 to 1999.
4. Fellowship was awarded by the Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University, St. Louis from December 10, 1998 to March 09, 1999. This fellowship was awarded for the molecular characterization of environmental strains of Vibrio cholerae.
5. ICMR international fellowship awarded from 4th Feb to 2nd Aug, 2011 to study develop leukemic mice model in K.U. Leuven, Belgium in the lab of Prof. C.M. Verfaillie.

POSITIONS HELD IN USA

1. Research Associate: January 2000 to April 2001 in The Loyola University Medical Center, Chicago
2. Research Associate: May 2001 to May 2002 in The University of Illinois at Chicago.
3. Instructor: June 2002 to June 2003 in The University of Illinois at Chicago.
4. Research Assistant Professor:  June 2003 to January 2005 in The University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Pathology.

POSITIONS HELD IN INDIA 

      1. Scientist "B" in ILS- Feb, 2005 to June, 2007 

      2. Scientist "C" in ILS - June, 2007 to till date

MEMBERSHIP 

1. Member, Medical Biotechnology Task Force, Dept of Biotechnology (DBT),

Govt. of India, 2008.

2. Member, Chronic disease biology (CDB) Task force, Dept. of Biotechnology, Govt. of India,  2009 -till date.

TALKS DELIVERED

1. Interaction of EVI1 with c-AMP-responsive element-binding protein-binding protein (CBP) and p300/CBP-associated factor (P/CAF) results in reversible acetylation of EVI1 and in co-localization in nuclear speckles.

SRL Ranbaxy, Mumbai.

8th November, 2005

2. Functional Regulation of the Oncoprotein Ecotropic Viral Integration Site 1 (EVI1) by Co-regulators and Components of SWI/SNF Complexes.

Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Navi Mumbai.

9th November, 2005.

3. Techniques in Cloning. Department of Biotechnology, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar,

8th Sept, 2006

4. Gene cloning and its application, Department of Biotechnology, Utkal University,

Bhubaneswar,

9th Feb, 2007

5. Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, SCB medical College, Cuttack, 21st Jan, 2009

6. Acetylation of the proto-oncogene EVI1 abrogates Bcl-xL DNA binding and induces apoptosis

Conference on Haematological Malignancies,

NCBS and St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences Collaborative Initiative,

Bangalore

5th August, 2010.  

7. Identification and functional characterization of critical regulators of apoptosis, and de-acetylation by the proto-oncogene EVI1

Stem Cell Institute, K.U. Leuven, Leuven, Belgium,

16th Feb, 2011.