My formal educational training is in Molecular Biology. My major research focus is in Cancer Biology, especially in the field of anti-cancer drug resistance, a phenomenon responsible for the majority of cancer-related deaths. In this aspect I am primarily interested in breast cancer, since it is the most predominant cancer and a major cause of mortality in women worldwide. My ultimate goal is to provide a better quality of life for cancer patients and increase their overall life expectancy. I use various biochemical, cellular, molecular biology and omics tools in my lab. I am also keenly interested in teaching and mentoring students and research fellows.
Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women. Despite of tremendous advancement in breast cancer treatment, a significant number of lives are lost due to development of anti-cancer drug resistance. My primary research objective is to identify mechanisms of resistance to drugs that are either being used in clinic or under development for breast cancer patients. I use Cellular and Molecular Biology tools along with genomics, proteomics and metabolomics in in vitro and in vivo breast cancer model systems. I am also interested in studying the relationship between the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase oncogene and cancer stem cells in anti-cancer drug resistance. Another emerging area of interest is to identify the role of oxidative stress-associated metabolic reprogramming in aging and raging-related diseases such as cancer. The ultimate goal of my research is to identify diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers for breast cancer patients that will help making therapeutic decisions and increase their life expectancy.