Bio
Dr. Kaushik Biswas is presently working as an Associate Professor in the Division of Molecular Medicine in Bose Institute, India. Dr. Biswas did his post graduation in Biochemistry from the University of Calcutta and received his PhD degree from Jadavpur University in 2001 in the field of bioactive medicinal plants and was actively engaged in identification of a novel anti-acidic and anti-ulcer principle from the common Indian medicinal plant, Neem (Azadirachta indica). He did his post-doctoral studies at the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, from 2003-2010 in the field of tumor-induced host immune suppression, which formed the basis of his present and primary research interest in the field of cancer biology. His primary research interest lies in identifying the role of tumor derived glycolipids in tumor growth, progression and metastasis. In order to address this, his laboratory employs genetically engineered mammalian cells using targeted genome editing tools like TALEN and CRISPR. One of his recent work has identified a novel role of ganglioside GM2 in tumor growth, progression and metastasis through modulation of the integrin signaling. Using TALEN and CRISPR-Cas9 mediated GM2-synthase knockout mouse and human cancer cells, his laboratory has also been able to successfully establish a critical role of GM2 in inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) which involves the Hippo-YAP dependent transcriptional program. He is also trying to understand the basis of regulation of ganglioside synthase genes in cancer. Preliminary data indicates that GM2-synthase gene is epigenetically controlled in cancer. Dr. Biswas has published a number of articles in peer reviewed international journals with wide visibility, served as reviewer in various international journals, and is currently an academic editor in PLoS One.
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