Translational Cancer Research Lab
Translational Cancer Research Lab (Dhruv Kumar's Lab) is based in the School of Health Science and Technology (SoHST) at UPES University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. Our research focuses on translational cancer research to understand the molecular cross-talk between cancer cells and tumor microenvironment, mainly on signalling interplay between metabolism and autophagy in cancer and cancer stem cells (head and neck, brain, gallbladder, endometrial, prostate, pancreatic & breast cancer), tumor heterogeneity, cancer genomics, drug designing and bioinformatics.
After earning B.Sc. in Chemistry from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi and M.Sc. in Bioinformatics with Distinction from the University of Allahabad (AU), Prayagraj, Dr. Dhruv Kumar completed his Ph.D. in Cellular, Molecular and Industrial Biology from the University of Bologna (UNIBO), Italy under one of the prestigious fellowships of Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD), Indo-Italian Government fellowship. After completion of his PhD, he received five years of Postdoctoral training from the School of Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, USA. Currently, he is working as a Professor of Cancer Biology and Molecular Medicine at School of Health Science and Technology (SoHST), UPES University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. He has worked on several cancers, including Prostate, Pancreatic, Brain, Breast, Gallbladder, Endometrial and Head and Neck Cancer focusing on understanding the molecular mechanism (s) of the regulation of Autophagy and Apoptosis in Cancer Stem Cells (Prostate, Pancreatic, Brain and Breast). Specifically, he studied the molecular mechanism (s) of induced Autophagy in Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) via PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways and molecular cross-talk between the tumor microenvironment (Cancer Associated Fibroblast (CAF)) and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) via HGF/c-MET and bFGF/FGFR signaling pathways, intra-tumor mutational heterogeneity. Currently, his lab is exploring the Autophagy-Metabolic axis in cancer cells (head and neck, oral, breast, and brain) and tumor microenvironment for the development of therapeutic approach. Recently, his group has significantly contributed in Drug Designing and Drug Repurposing for COVID-19. Apart from his research, he is actively involved in teaching courses at UG, PG and PhD level related to Cancer Biology, Stem Cell Biology, Molecular Medicine and Bioinformatics.
Research Interest: Translational Cancer Research, Cancer Stem Cell, Cancer Cell Metabolism, Tumor Microenvironment, Tumor Heterogeneity, Autophagy, Exosomes, Genome Editing, NGS Data analysis, COVID-19, Drug Designing, Drug Repurposing and Bioinformatics
Books: 1. Autophagy and Metabolism: Potential Target for Cancer Therapy - Elsevier, 2. Cancer Cell Metabolism: A Potential Target for Cancer Therapy - Springer, 3. Xenobiotics in Chemical Carcinogenesis-Translational Aspects in Toxicology - Elsevier
Research Group (past):
1. Ms. Vaishali Chandel (PhD): Metabolic Dysregulation in Head and Neck Cancer
2. Mr. Stephen James (PhD): Mutational Heterogeneity in Head and Neck Cancer
3. Mr. Gaurav Kant (PhD): Metabolic dysregulation in oocytes development in infertile female
4. Ms. Sanchita Roy Pradhan (PhD): Therapeutic Implications of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Lung Cancer
Research Group (present):
1. Ms. Sibi Raj (JRF-PhD): Metabolic Dysregulation in Head and Neck Cancer
2. Ms. Sujata Maurya (PhD): Metabolic Dysregulation in Infertile Male Sperm
3. Ms. Saniya Arfin (PhD): Oxidative Stress and Metabolic Dysregulation in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
4. Ms. Kirti Agrawal (PhD): Metabolic Dysregulation in Brain Cancer
5. Ms. Priya (PhD): Metabolic Dysregulation in Breast Cancer
6. Ms. Swati Singh (PhD): Early Cancer Detection (Endometrial Cancer)
7. Mr. Manishankar Kumar (PhD): Environmental toxicity and Gallbladder Cancer
Publications:
Google Scholar Link : https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=afOWPrgAAAAJ&hl=en
