Professional Bio
PhD in Biochemistry, 2000, A.M. University, Aligarh, India
Thesis: "Regulation of 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl Coenzyme A Reductase by Tocotrienols Isolated from Rice Bran Oil: Antiatherogenic Impacts in Normolipidemic and Hyperlipidemic Human and Animal Models"
MS in Biochemistry, 1995, A.M. University, Aligarh, India
Subjects: Bioorganic Chemistry, Biophysical Chemistry, Structure and Function of Proteins, Advanced Enzymology, Intermediary Metabolism, Molecular Cell Biology, Biotechnology, Molecular Genetics, Immunology.
BS, in Biochemistry, 1993, A.M. University, Aligarh, India
Subjects: Biochemistry, Botany and Chemistry
Research Assistant Professor, November 2007 to date
Department of Pediatrics
University of Rochester Medical Center,
Rochester, NY – USA
Advisor: Dr Arshad Rahman, PhD
Research Associate, May 2003 to October 2007
Department of Pediatrics
University of Rochester Medical Center,
Rochester, NY – USA
Advisor: Dr Arshad Rahman, PhD
Research Associate, November 2002 to April 2003
Department of Pharmacology,
University of Illinois
Chicago, IL – USA
Advisor: Dr Arshad Rahman, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, September 2000 to October 2002
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Medical College of Georgia
Augusta, GA – USA
Advisor: Dr Andreas Seyfang
Research Bio
My research focuses on understanding how the pro-inflammatory mediator thrombin, released during sepsis or tissue injury, mediates neutrophils sequestration and emigration in the lung and thus induce lung vascular injury.
In particular, I am interested in identifying critical signaling pathways mediating expression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1; CD54), an inducible endothelial adhesive protein that serves as a counter-receptor for ?2-integrins (CD11/CD18) present on the surface of leukocytes. Interaction of ICAM-1 with ?2-integrins enables PMN to adhere firmly and stably to the vascular endothelium, and to migrate across the endothelial barrier. PMN binding to endothelial cells by this mechanism contributes to the development of lung vascular injury and tissue edema.
I employ multidisciplinary approaches ranging from cultured endothelial cells and in vivo mouse models to molecular biology to address these questions of fundamental importance.
have recently demonstrated a crucial role of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in modulating thrombin-induced NF-?B activation and ICAM-1 expression in endothelial cells.
In other collaborative studies, I have contributed to demonstrate crucial roles of actin cytoskeleton and tyrosine kinases in controlling the activation of NF-?B and expression of ICAM-1 following thrombin challenge of endothelial cells.
I have also obtained experience in liposome-based method of gene delivery. I have successfully used this method to express the cDNA encoding mTOR in the lungs of mice. I am currently engaged in determining whether expression of mTOR by this approach dampens ICAM-1 expression, lung neutrophil infiltration, and neutrophil-mediated lung vascular injury in mice challenged with thrombin or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In initial experiments, expression of mTOR was effective in preventing LPS-induced infiltration of neutrophils in lungs of mice, indicating the clinical significance and the therapeutic potential of these studies.
I have extensive knowledge of mammalian tissue culture, especially establishment of primary cultures from mammalian tissues; familiarity with general techniques of molecular biology, including expression vector cloning; RT-PCR, PCR, Western blotting, cellular DNA and RNA analysis techniques.
