Muthusamy Thangaraju
Professor
Academic Appointment(s)
Medical College of Georgia
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
The Graduate School
Administration
Department of The Graduate School
Bio
Dr. Muthusamy Thangaraju (Raju) is a breast cancer research scientist. I started my research career as a breast cancer Scientist in 1991 when I was a graduate student at the University of Madras, India. Then I moved to the McGill University, Montreal, Canada as a post-doctoral fellowships and studied the role of protein tyrosine phosphatases, SHP1 and SHP2, in breast cancer growth and progression. Then I joined at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, and expanded my research in breast cancer and investigated the role of BRCA1 and BRCA2, the two breast cancer susceptibility genes, in the regulation of DNA damage repair and apoptosis in breast cancer. Then I joined the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Frederick, MD where I explored the functional implication of CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein delta (CEBPD) in mammary gland development and its relevance to mammary tumor growth and progression. Currently, I am a Professor at the Augusta University and studying the role of epigenetics and regulation of mammary gland development and its association with mammary stem cells (MaSC) and breast cancer stem cell (BCSC) self-renewal. I also studies the role of GPR109A, Netrin-1, and Epigenetics in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD).
Education
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Ph.D., BiochemistryUniversity of Madras, 1996
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MS, Chemistry, GeneralBharathidasan University, 1989
Awards & Honors
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Outstanding Young Scientist AwardAugusta University, 2010
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Spring Research Festivel Best Poster AwardNational Cancer Institute (NCI), 2002
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NCI Research FellowshipNational Cancer Institute, 2001
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Travel grantUICC, 1998
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Post-Doctoral FellowshipRoyal Victoria Hospital Research Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, 1998
Courses Taught Most Recent Academic Year
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BCMB 9210
Investigation of Problem
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MEDI 6220
Cardiopulmonary/Heme
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BCMB 8201
Cur Topics & Tech in MB
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BIOM 8215
Fundamentals of Oncology I
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MEDI 6240
GI/GU/Endocrine
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BCMB 9010
Seminar in BMB
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BCMB 8340
Elements of Scientific Pres
Teaching Interests
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Signal Transduction, Epigenetics, Breast Cancer Stem Cell (BCSC) self-renewal, and Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD).
Scholarship
Selected Recent Publications
- Upregulation of the EGFR/MEK1/MAPK1/2 signaling axis as a mechanism of resistance to antiestrogen‑induced BimEL dependent apoptosis in ER(+) breast cancer cells., 2023
Journal Article, Professional Journal
- Targeting hyaluronic acid synthase-3 (HAS3) for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma., 2022
Journal Article, Academic Journal
- Ursolic Acid Analogs as Potential Therapeutics for Cancer., 2022
Journal Article, Academic Journal
- Genetic Deletion of LRP5 and LRP6 in Macrophages Exacerbates Colitis-Associated Systemic Inflammation and Kidney Injury in Response to Intestinal Commensal Microbiota., 2022
Journal Article, Academic Journal
- Netrin-1 Overexpression Induces Polycystic Kidney Disease: A Novel Mechanism Contributing to Cystogenesis in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease., 2022
Journal Article, Professional Journal
Research Interests
Role of epigenetics, especially DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), in regulation of mammary stem and progenitor cells (MaSC) and breast cancer stem cell (BCSC) self-renewal and its association in breast cancer growth and progression.
The main focus of my laboratory is to understand the role of DNMT1 in regulation of MaSC and BCSC self-renewal and to explore the role histone deacetylases (HDACs) and histone methyltransferases (HMTs) in these cells. We are also interested in developing small molecules to target BCSCs by utilizing state of the art gene-targeting strategies and spontaneous mouse mammary tumor models.
We are also interested to understand the role of Epigenetics, especially DNMT1 and DNMT3b, in the cytogenesis of autosomal polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).
Department Service
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Department Space Committee2015 - Present
Role:Attendee, Meeting
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Faculty recruitment committee2015 - Present
Role:Attendee, Meeting
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Medical Student Interview Committee2015 - Present
Role:Attendee, Meeting
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Students Promotion and Academic Committee2015 - Present
Role:Attendee, Meeting
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Department faculty recruitment and P & T committee2014 - Present
Role:Committee Member
College Service
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Medical Admission Interview Committee2020 - Present
Role:Committee Member
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Institutional Tumor Tissue Repository2015 - Present
Role:Committee Member
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Institutional Chemical Safety2013 - Present
Role:Committee Member
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Student Promotion committee2016 - 2019
Role:Committee Member
University Service
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Tumor Tissue Bank2013 - Present
Role:Committee Member
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Institutional Chemical Safety2011 - Present
Role:Committee Member
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Extramural grant review2008 - Present
Role:Committee Member
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MD admission committee2012 - 2026
Role:Task Force Member
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Medical students P & T Committee2015 - 2019
Role:Committee Member
