Sharada Mokkapati | Cancer Biology | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Sharada Mokkapati | Cancer Biology | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Sharada Mokkapati, The UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, United States

Dr. Sharada Mokkapati is an Assistant Professor of Urology (Research) at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, specializing in oncology, molecular biology, and gene therapy. With a PhD in Genetics from the University of Cologne, Germany (2007), Dr. Mokkapati has contributed significantly to bladder cancer research. She was a key team member in the first FDA-approved gene therapy for bladder cancer and has extensive experience with gene therapy vector development, RNA/DNA molecular techniques, and NextGen sequencing. Her research also includes the identification of miRNA biomarkers and the study of tumor metabolism in gene therapy responses. Dr. Mokkapati has received multiple awards, including the Dodie P. Hawn Fellowship and the Lennox K. Black International prize for excellence in medicine. She is also an adhoc reviewer for journals like BMC Cancer and has co-authored numerous influential publications on bladder cancer and cancer therapy.

Publication Profile

Scopus

Education

Dr. Sharada Mokkapati earned her PhD in Genetics from the University of Cologne, Germany, in February 2007. Her academic journey has focused on genetic research, exploring complex biological systems to understand various genetic disorders. With a robust foundation in genetic principles, she has contributed significantly to the scientific community through research, publications, and collaborations. Dr. Mokkapati’s work has emphasized advancing knowledge in molecular genetics, genetic markers, and hereditary diseases, making a lasting impact on the field. Her dedication continues to inspire the next generation of genetic researchers. 🌱📚

 

Professional Experience 🌟

Dr. Sharada Mokkapati has an extensive career in academia and research. Since 2020, she has served as an Assistant Professor in Urology (Research) at the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. Previously, she was an Instructor in Urology (Research) at the same institution from 2015 to 2020. Dr. Mokkapati’s academic journey began with a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Genetics at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center (2008-2015). Her early career includes graduate studies in Dermatology at the University of Cologne (2002-2007), and research roles at SPIC Science Foundation and Malladi Drugs & Pharmaceuticals in India. 🧬🔬

 

 

Research Achievements 🧬🔬

Dr. Sharada Mokkapati has made significant contributions to the field of oncology and gene therapy. She was a key team member in the development of the first FDA-approved gene therapy for bladder cancer. With extensive experience in oncology, molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, and biomedical research, Dr. Mokkapati has developed and validated vectors for gene therapy. She is highly proficient in RNA, DNA, protein molecular techniques, biochemical assays, and NextGen sequencing. Additionally, Dr. Mokkapati excels in using both xenograft and genetically engineered mouse models for translational biology studies and managing research-related compliance and clinical trial databases. 🧪💡

 

Awards and Honors 🏅🎓

Dr. Sharada Mokkapati has been recognized with several prestigious awards throughout her career. She was honored with the “Dodie P. Hawn Fellowship in Genetics” at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Mokkapati also received the “Travel Award-Lennox K. Black International Prize for Excellence in Medicine” for her contribution to the 12th International Symposium on Basement Membranes in Philadelphia. As a team member, she contributed to the technology transfer for amylase and tannase at SPIC Science Foundation, India. Additionally, she qualified the “National Eligibility Test for Lectureship (NET)” and received the “Dr. T. Ramachandra Rao Memorial Gold Medal” for academic excellence in her Master’s studies. 🏆🧬

 

 

Research Focus 🔬💡

Dr. Sharada Mokkapati’s research primarily focuses on oncology, molecular biology, and gene therapy in the context of bladder cancer. She has contributed extensively to the molecular profiling of bladder cancer, identifying relevant subtypes for biomarker discovery. Her work also includes the development and validation of gene therapy vectors, particularly in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Dr. Mokkapati is proficient in RNA/DNA/protein molecular techniques, biochemical analysis, and NextGen sequencing, using mouse models to address both basic biological and translational studies. Her efforts aim to integrate gene therapies into bladder cancer treatment paradigms. 🧬🧫🎯

 

Publication Top Notes

  • Molecular profiling of bladder cancer xenografts defines relevant molecular subtypes and provides a resource for biomarker discovery (2025) – Cited by 0 🔬📚
  • Integrating gene therapy into the treatment paradigm for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (2025) – Cited by 0 🧬💡
  • Concomitant antihistamine administration improves survival outcomes in urothelial carcinoma treated with atezolizumab (2025) – Cited by 0 💊📈
  • Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis identifies acute changes in the tumor microenvironment induced by interferon α gene therapy in a murine bladder cancer model (2024) – Cited by 0 🧪🧬
  • Interferon gene therapy with nadofaragene firadenovec for bladder cancer: from bench to approval (2023) – Cited by 7 🏥🔬
  • The current status of gene therapy in bladder cancer (2023) – Cited by 8 📖🔍
  • Lentiviral interferon: A novel method for gene therapy in bladder cancer (2022) – Cited by 8 🧬🧪
  • Antiadenovirus Antibodies Predict Response Durability to Nadofaragene Firadenovec Therapy in BCG-unresponsive Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer (2022) – Cited by 16 🧪🔬
  • TCF21 promotes luminal-like differentiation and suppresses metastasis in bladder cancer (2020) – Cited by 7 🧬💥
  • Generation of a novel mouse strain with conditional, cell-type specific, expression of DND1 (2019) – Cited by 2 🐁🔬

 

 

 

Hadi Alizadeh | Cancer stem cells | Best Researcher Award

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Mr. Hadi Alizadeh | Cancer stem cells | Best Researcher Award

Graduate Master Student, Tarbiat Modares University, Iran

Mr. Hadi Alizadeh is a Master’s graduate in Molecular Genetics from Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, with a thesis on AGPAT3 gene and cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer cells. His research encompasses gene expression analysis, drug discovery, and epigenomic profiling, focusing on chemoresistance mechanisms in cancer. He has contributed to various publications and presented at international conferences. Skilled in PCR, RNA-seq, flow cytometry, and bioinformatics, he is proficient in machine learning and molecular dynamics. Hadi has been recognized for his academic excellence, ranking highly in national exams. He also has hands-on experience in medical genetics and as a teaching assistant. 🧬💉🔬

 

Publication Profile

Orcid

Education

Mr. Hadi Alizadeh completed his Master’s in Molecular Genetics at Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, from October 2021 to November 2023, achieving an impressive average of 18.2/20. His thesis, titled “Introduction of AGPAT3 gene as a regulator of cisplatin resistance in A2780 ovarian cancer cell line,” was supervised by Dr. Soltani. Prior to this, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Genetics from Islamic Azad University, North Tehran, from October 2016 to May 2020, with a strong academic performance, securing an average of 17.83/20. His solid educational background highlights his commitment to molecular genetics and cancer research. 📚🧬

 

Research Experience

Mr. Hadi Alizadeh’s research experience includes significant work in molecular genetics and cancer research. For his Master’s thesis, he explored AGPAT3 gene as a regulator of cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer cells, performing RNA-seq and various functional assays like RT-qPCR, western blotting, and apoptosis assays, revealing AGPAT3’s role in survival and cell cycle arrest under cisplatin treatment. He also studied the synergistic effect of dendrosomal nano-curcumin (DNC) with cisplatin in reducing cisplatin resistance. Additionally, he worked on epigenomic profiling of oxaliplatin-resistant HCT116 colorectal cancer cells and drug discovery targeting mTORC1 signaling. 🧬💻

 

Honors & Awards 🏆🎓

Mr. Hadi Alizadeh has demonstrated exceptional academic achievements throughout his career. In 2021, he ranked 18th out of nearly 10,000 participants in the national entrance exam for medical genetics in the healthcare system, showcasing his expertise and dedication. Additionally, he secured the 25th position among approximately 7,000 candidates in the national entrance exam for a Master’s program in genetics. These prestigious rankings highlight his strong academic foundation and passion for genetics research, setting the stage for his future contributions to the field. 🌟📚

 

Professional Experience 💼🔬

Mr. Hadi Alizadeh has gained valuable hands-on experience in various research and clinical settings. As a volunteer at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, he collected samples and performed RNA extraction for various projects. In his role as an apprentice at the Cytogenetic Lab, he conducted karyotyping as part of clinical genetic analyses, gaining key insights into genetic disorders. Additionally, as a Genetic Laboratory Technician prior to his Master’s, Mr. Alizadeh contributed to the COVID-19 response by performing RNA extraction and real-time PCR on samples, further honing his technical expertise in molecular genetics. 🧬🔬

 

Research Focus

Mr. Hadi Alizadeh’s research primarily focuses on molecular genetics and cancer biology. His work explores the mechanisms of chemoresistance in cancer, particularly involving the mTORC1 signaling pathway and its role in platinum-based chemotherapy resistance. He also investigates the epigenomic and transcriptomic changes related to chemoresistance in colorectal cancer cells. His expertise extends to drug discovery, with a focus on molecular dynamics and virtual screening for targeting cancer resistance mechanisms. Alizadeh’s research contributes significantly to understanding cancer cell survival and potential therapeutic strategies. 🧬💉💡

 

Publication Top Notes

  • Introduction of AGPAT3 gene as a regulator of cisplatin resistance in A2780 ovarian cancer
    cell line (under review after revision in PLOS ONE)
  •  Phosphatidic acid as a cofactor of mTORC1 in platinum-based chemoresistance: Mechanisms
    and therapeutic potential (Review article) (Published)
  •  Epigenomic and Transcriptomic Profiling of Oxaliplatin Resistant HCT116 Colorectal
    Cancer Cells Reveals Super-Enhancer-Driven Mechanisms of Chemoresistance
    (Bioinformatic article) (Revision in Scientific Reports)
  • Comparison of Machine Learning Algorithms and Feature Selection Methods for Identifying
    Important Features of Expression Data (Manuscript preparation)
  • Bioinformatic Analysis to find drugs Inhibiting mTORC1 as a Phosphatidic AcidDisplacement Strategy (Manuscript preparation)
  •  Comparison of Signaling Pathways and Genetic Modifications of Cancer Stem Cells with
    Normal Stem Cells (Review article) (ready to submit)