I am a young investigator with broad expertise in molecular biology, cell signaling, and cancer biology, and conducting basic and preclinical research in the field of cancer and endothelial biology. During my Ph.D. studies and postdoctoral training, I became fascinated by the unique reprogramming capacity of cells in response to changes in their microenvironment. As a cancer biologist, I aim to focus on how the crosstalk between cancer cells and their microenvironment allows cancer cells to reprogram themselves, not only to promote their growth but also to facilitate their escape from the immune response and drug therapy. My research focus is to decipher the “superpower nurturing milieu” of cancer cells. I interrogate how the crosstalk of the cellular microenvironment impacts cancer growth and drug resistance. My long-term goal is to translate the findings into therapeutic concepts and, ultimately, novel cancer treatments.
Education:
Ph.D. (Life Science) SGPGIMS LUCKNOW, INDIA 2006-2012
M.Sc. (Biotechnology) V.B.S. P. UNIVERSITY, JAUNPUR, UP, INDIA 2002-2004
B.Sc. V.B.S. P. UNIVERSITY, JAUNPUR, UP, INDIA 1999-2002
Fellowship:
2017-2021 Postdoc. Fellow Dept. of Pathology, OUHSC, OK
2014-2016 Postdoc. Fellow College of pharmacy, OUHSC, OK
2013-2014 Postdoc. Fellow BHU, Varanasi, India
2012-2013 Senior Research Fellow CDRI, Lucknow, UP India
2008-2011 Senior Research Fellow SGPGIMS, Lucknow UP, India
2006-2008 Junior Research Fellow SGPGIMS, Lucknow UP, India
2004-2006 Research Assistant IGIB, New Delhi–07, India
Clinical/Research Interests:
Over the past decade, my investigations have delved into the influence of diverse stress responses on cellular functions, encompassing scenarios like nutrient deficiency stress, hormonal imbalances, hemorrhagic shock, and cancer. Despite their unique contexts, these conditions share a common thread: disruptions in cellular crosstalk and metabolic reprogramming driven by imbalances in signaling cues. My unwavering commitment lies in advancing our comprehension of this expansive realm of cell biology, recognizing its pivotal role in facilitating efficient cellular functioning within the intricate microenvironments of organs, and understanding how this crosstalk is perturbed in various physiological and pathological circumstances. The scientific insights emerging from my research endeavors hold the potential to unveil novel therapeutic targets.
Select Honors & Accomplishments:
- John B. Bruce Scholarship Award (2016). Outstanding postdoctoral fellow in Pharmaceutical Sciences. OU College of Pharmacy. OKC, OK United States of America.
- Awarded prestigious UGC-DS Kothari postdoctoral fellowship from University Grant Commission, India.
- Senior Research Fellowship (Feb. 2008 –Feb. 2011): CSIR, New Delhi, India.
- Junior Research Fellowship (Feb. 2006 – Feb. 2008) CSIR, New Delhi, India.
- Achieved Gold Medal in M. Sc. Biotechnology from V.B.S.P. University Jaunpur, UP, India.
Select Publications:
- Roy RV, Means N, Rao G, Asfa S, Madka V, Dey A, Zhang Y, Choudhury M, Fung KM, Dhanasekaran DN, Friedman JE, Crawford HC, Rao CV, Bhattacharya R, Mukherjee P. Pancreatic Ubap2 deletion regulates glucose tolerance, inflammation, and protection from cerulein-induced pancreatitis. Cancer Lett. 2023 Oct 19;578:216455. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216455. PMID: 37865160
- Geeta Rao#, Chandra Kumar Elechalawar#, Suresh Kumar Gulla , Maulin Mukeshchandra Patel , Alex Frickenstein , Nicolas Means , Ram Vinod Roy , Leonidas Tsiokas , Sima Asfa , Prasanta Panja , Chinthalapally Rao , Stefan Wilhelm , Resham Bhattacharya , Priyabrata Mukherjee. Gold Nanoparticles Inhibit Macropinocytosis by Decreasing KRAS Activation. ACS Nano. 2023 May 2. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.3c00920. PMID: 37129853
- Md. Nazir Hossen, Lin Wang, Shailendra Kumar Dhar Dwivedi, Geeta Rao, Chandra Kumar Elechalwar, Yushan Zhang, Vinit Sheth, Anindya Dey, Sima Asfa, Suresh Gulla, Chao Xu, Kar-Ming Fung, J. David Robertson, Magdalena Bieniasz, Stefan Wilhelm, Resham Bhattacharya and Priyabrata Mukherjee. Gold Nanoparticles Disrupt the IGFBP2/mTOR/PTEN Axis to Inhibit Ovarian Cancer Growth. Adv Sci (Weinh). 2022 Nov;9(31):e2200491. PMID: 36104215
- Yushan Zhang, Chandra Kumar Elechalawar, Wen Yang, N.Frickenstein, Sima Asfa, Kar Ming Fung, Brennah N.Murphy, Shailendra K Dwivedi, Geeta Rao, Anindya Dey, Stefan Wilhelm, Resham Bhattacharya, Priyabrata Mukherjee. Disabling partners in crime: Gold nanoparticles disrupt multicellular communications within the tumor microenvironment to inhibit ovarian tumor aggressiveness. Mater Today (Kidlington). 2022 Jun; 56:79-95. doi: 10.1016/j.mattod.2022.01.025. Epub 2022 Feb 23. PMID: 36188120
- Dwivedi SKD, Rao G, Dey A, Mukherjee P, Wren JD, Bhattacharya R. Small Non-Coding-RNA in Gynecological Malignancies. Cancers (Basel). 2021 Mar 3;13(5):1085. doi: 10.3390/cancers13051085. PMID: 33802524 Free PMC article. Review.
- Dwivedi SKD, Rao G, Dey A, Buechel M, Zhang Y, Zhang M, Yang D, Mukherjee P, Bhattacharya R. Targeting the TGFβ pathway in uterine carcinosarcoma. Cell Stress. 2020 Aug 25;4(11):252-260. doi: 10.15698/cst2020.11.234. PMID: 33150300
- Rao G#, Dwivedi SKD#, Zhang Y, Dey A, Shameer K, Karthik R, Srikantan S, Hossen MN, Wren JD, Madesh M, Dudley JT, Bhattacharya R, Mukherjee P. MicroRNA-195 controls MICU1 expression and tumor growth in ovarian cancer. EMBO Rep. 2020:e48483. doi: 10.15252/embr.201948483. PubMed PMID: 32851774.
- Rao G# , Xiong X#, , Roy RV#, Zhang Y, Means N, Dey A, Tsaliki M, Saha S, Bhattacharyya S, Dhar Dwivedi SK, Rao CV, McCormick DJ, Dhanasekaran D, Ding K, Gillies E, Zhang M, Yang D, Bhattacharya R, Mukherjee P. Ubiquitin-binding associated protein 2 regulates KRAS activation and macropinocytosis in pancreatic cancer. FASEB J. 2020. doi: 10.1096/fj.201902826RR. PubMed PMID: 32692445.
- Dey A, Prabhudesai S, Zhang Y, Rao G, Thirugnanam K, Hossen MN, Dwivedi SKD, Ramchandran R, Mukherjee P, Bhattacharya R. Cystathione beta-synthase regulates HIF-1alpha stability through persulfidation of PHD2. Sci Adv. 2020;6(27). doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz8534. PubMed PMID: 32937467.
- Rao G#, Murphy B#, Dey A, Dwivedi SKD, Zhang Y, Roy RV, Chakraborty P, Bhattacharya R, Mukherjee P. Cystathionine beta synthase regulates mitochondrial dynamics and function in endothelial cells. FASEB J. 2020;34(7):9372-92. doi: 10.1096/fj.202000173R. PubMed PMID: 32463541.
Complete list of published work in MyBibliography: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/geeta.rao.1/bibliography/public/