Praveen Rajendran
Assistant Professor
Center for Epigenetics & Disease Prevention
Contact
Translational Medical Sciences
IBT - CEDP - Dashwood; 1201 TAMUS
Texas A&M Health Science Center
Houston,
TX
77030
prajendran@tamu.edu
Phone: tel:713-677-7803
Biography
Dr. Rajendran's research focuses on the discovery and development of novel therapies for colorectal cancer interception and investigating epigenetic pathways implicated in the early stages of the disease. As PI or co-investigator on several NIH-funded grants, he laid the groundwork in identifying novel epigenetic mechanisms of dietary compounds that affect Wnt/β-catenin and DNA repair.Dr. Rajendran also has extensive pharma R&D expertise in developing novel anticancer drugs through close collaboration with R&D teams. As the director of Antibody and Biopharmaceuticals Core (ABC), he supports and advances the development of monoclonal antibodies.
Education and Training
- Birla Institute of Technology & Science, PhD, 2006
Research Interests
- Dr. Rajendran has a broad background in pharmacology with more than 20 years of experience and a proven record of accomplishment in cancer chemoprevention, preclinical research, drug discovery and development. His research relates to identifying novel epigenetic approaches to the treatment and prevention of colorectal cancer, where most therapeutic options are woefully ineffective. He identified turnover of histone deacetylases (HDACs) triggering protein acetylation as a novel mechanism for cancer chemoprevention by dietary isothiocyanates. His lab routinely employs both cell-based and rodent animal models that made it possible to conduct clinical trials with dietary isothiocyanates, such as sulforaphane. In addition, he serves as the primary investigator in studies that test the hypothesis that isothiocyanates exploit HDAC turnover pathways, faulty DNA repair mechanisms and genomic instability in cancer cells, leading to chemo-sensitization and the potential for enhanced cancer therapy. His expertise in working with NSAID-like drugs and dietary compounds combined with knowledge of histone and non-histone protein acetylation has resulted in collaborative efforts with GI clinicians at MD Anderson Cancer Center, DNA repair scientists at Methodist, proteomics experts at Baylor College of Medicine, plant circadian specialists at Rice University and pharmacokinetic experts at the University of Houston. Dr. Rajendran recently assumed leadership of the Antibody & Biopharmaceutics Core (ABC), a brand new service center focused on antibody engineering. As ABC Director, Dr. Rajendran supports and advances the research mission of the IBT, maximizes return on investment and promotes 'Team Science' at all levels. For more details, see https://ibt.tamhsc.edu/cores/abcore/index.html
Awards, Recognition and Service
- CCAR2 as a Target for Prevention of Colorectal Cancer awarded by DHHS-NIH-National Cancer Institute