Department of Cell and Cancer Biology

Nagalakshmi Nadiminty, Ph.D.

 

nagalakshmi nadiminty Nagalakshmi Nadiminty, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Dept.  Urology & Cell and Cancer Biology
nagalakshmi.nadiminty@utoledo.edu

 EDUCATION:

1992                      B.Sc.                 Biology, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India
1994                      M.Sc.                Applied Microbiology, SPM Visva Vidyalayam, Tiruptai, India
2001                      Ph.D.                Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India 
2001-2002          Postdoc           AMC Cancer Research Center, Denver, CO
2002-2004          Postdoc           State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
2004-2007          Postdoc           Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Current research in the Nadiminty lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms of cancer development and progression in urologic malignancies. Urologic malignancies such as prostate, bladder, and renal cancers account for significant mortality and morbidity as well as health care related expenses in the U.S. 

Prostate cancer: Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is often treated with anti-androgens such as enzalutamide and androgen synthesis inhibitors such as abiraterone but therapy is often complicated by primary or acquired resistance and the mechanisms are mostly unknown. Dr. Nadiminty's lab aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of resistance to approved therapeutics such as enzalutamide or abiraterone. Ultimate goals are to identify combination treatments to improve the efficacy of enzalutamide or abiraterone, and the development of novel therapeutics and biomarkers.

Bladder cancer: Most cases of bladder cancer present as non-muscle-invasive cancers (NMIBC), a significant proportion of which progress to muscle-invasive disease (MIBC). MIBCs are often treated with toxic platinum-based therapeutic regimens; however, many patients are not eligible due to comorbidities. Even though immunotherapeutics have emerged as new therapies in recent years, they are not effective in all patients. Our focus is on the elucidation of novel molecular signatures, biomarkers, and combination therapies for the management of bladder cancer.

Renal cancer: Renal cell carcinoma presents as clear-cell RCC, papillary RCC, or chromophobe RCC. Clear-cell RCC accounts for 80% of RCC. Surgical resection and tyrosine kinase (angiogenesis) and mTOR inhibitors have been the mainstay of RCC treatment for several years. However, prognosis for recurrent metastatic RCC is generally poor. Our aim is to develop combinatorial strategies to better target RCC subsets to improve personalized medicine. Current emphasis is on targeting cancer cell metabolism to improve the efficacy of approved therapies.

Ongoing Research Support

PC190332, Department of Defense PCRP Idea Development Award-Established Investigator 
Nadiminty (PI)                      
09/01/2020-08/31/2023
Tumor metabolism as the Achilles’ heel in prostate cancer

Completed Research Support

1R03CA198696-01A1, National Cancer Institute
Nadiminty (PI)
09/22/2017-08/31/2020
Alteration of the miR-Let-7c:Lin28 ratio as a predictor of therapy resistance in Prostate Cancer

1R21CA202404-01A1, National Cancer Institute
Nadiminty (PI)
07/01/2016-06/30/2020
MicroRNAs modulate therapy resistance in prostate cancer

PC100502, Department of Defense PCRP Idea Development Award-New Investigator
Nadiminty (PI)
07/01/2011-06/30/2015
Novel functions of NF-kappaB2/p52 in androgen receptor signaling in CRPC

UC Davis Academic Federation
Nadiminty (PI)
01/01/2011-12/31/2012
Loss of miR-let-7c as a predictor of castration resistance in prostate cancer

American Cancer Society
Institutional Research Grant
Nadiminty (PI)
01/01/2011–12/31/11
Regulation of the Lin28/miR-let-7c axis by NF kappaB2/p52 in prostate cancer 

RECENT PUBLICATIONS:  
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 STUDENT OPENINGS:  Currently accepting Ph.D., M.D./Ph.D., M.S.M.D. students

 

Last Updated: 2/24/23