FACULTY

Dr. Ashwini Prabhu

Assistant Professor
  • PhD, Cancer Biology and Cytogenetics
  • MSc-Biosciences
  • ashwinibiosciences@gmail.com

Profile

Having expertise in Cell and Molecular Biology, I am serving the cell culture division of Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University) since November 2015. I obtained my Ph.D. from Department of Biosciences, Mangalore University in 2013, wherein I evaluated the effect of certain natural anti-neoplastic agents on chemically induced skin and uterine cervix carcinoma using mouse models. I am working on novel immunomodulators and anti-angiogenic agents that can target metastasis, using both in vitro and in vivo models.

PostDoc/Experience

  • Worked as R& D officer for Tetragon Chemie Pvt. Ltd. , Bangalore (July 2005 – July 2007)
  • Worked as a postdoctoral fellow at Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University (September 2013 – October 2015)
  • Working as Assistant Professor at Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University (November 2015 till date)

Awards/Honors

  • First rank in M.Sc. Biosciences, Mangalore University (2005)
  • Qualified UGC-CSIR (2005)
  • Junior Research Fellowship from BRNS (2008-2010)
  • Senior Research Fellowship from BRNS (2010-2011)

Research

Research Interest/Area

 Angiogenesis inhibitors and immunomodulators as cancer therapeutics

Research

Angiogenesis, the formation of blood vessels is an important process in tumor progression. Targeting angiogenesis/inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase activity is considered as one of the key strategies in cancer therapy. Several compounds are known to inhibit angiogenesis in in vitro and in vivo models. Hence, the work on isolation of natural antiangiogenic compounds was carried out by our group and obtained promising results of which lupeol, a triterpene showed potent antiangiogenic and MMP inhibitory activities in in vitro models. Also, the compound was found to be cytotoxic against glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive drug resistant form of brain tumor. Further efforts towards deciphering the underlying cellular signaling mechanisms are ongoing, with the aim to develop angiogenesis inhibitors as adjuvant therapeutics with conventional therapies.

Publication

  1. Shaikh SB †, Prabhu A †, Bhandary YP. Interleukin 17-A as a potential therapeutic target in chronic diseases. Endocrine, Metabolic and Immune Disorders: Drug Targets. 2019. DOI: 10.2174/1871530319666190116115226
  2. Santosh R, Prabhu A, Selvam MK, Krishna PM, Nagaraja GK, Rekha PD. Design, synthesis and pharmacology of some oxadiazole and hydroxypyrazoline hybrids bearing thiazolyl scaffold: antiproliferative activity, molecular docking and DNA binding studies. Heliyon. 2019. 5(2): e01255.
  3. Gouda MM†, Prabhu A†, Bhandary YP. IL-17A suppresses and curcumin up-regulates Akt expression upon bleomycin exposure. Molecular Biology Reports. 2018. 45(4): 645-650.
  4. Gouda MM†, Prabhu A†, Bhandary YP. Curcumin alleviates IL-17A mediated p53-PAI-1 expression in bleomycin induced alveolar basal epithelial cells. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry. 2018. 119(2): 2222-2230.
  5. Kakunje A, Prabhu A, Sindhu Priya ES, Karkal R, Pookoth RK, Rekha PD. Acetazolamide for antipsychotic-associated weight gain in Schizophrenia. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 2018. 38(6): 652.

Patents

 

  1. Yashodhar P. Bhandary, Sadiya Bi Shaikh, Mr. Mohd. Altaf Najar, Dr. Ashwini Prabhu, Dr. Prashant Kumar Modi and Dr. T. S. Keshava Prasad,“Molecular Biomarkers for Detection of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis”, Indian Patent, Provisional specification, 2019, 201941048222.

 

Projects

  • Principal Investigator for the project titled “Development and investigation of adjuvant therapeutic strategies for treating malignant glioma by gamma radiation in combination with angiogenesis inhibition” (Funding: DAE-BRNS)
  • Co-investigator for the project titled “A novel strategy for enhancing the efficacy of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) in diabetic wound care” (Funding: DST)
  • Co-investigator for the project titled “ Study of association between valproic acid levels, biotinidase activity and hair loss in Indian population” (Funding: IAPP, Grant amount: 4 Lakhs)
  • Co-investigator for the project titled “Development of thermoresponsive polymer nanogels for sustained release of Bevacizumab towards efficient treatment of diabetic macular edema” (Funding: DST-SERB)

Lab Members