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Dr. Damu Sunilkumar

Faculty Associate, School of Biotechnology, Amritapuri

Qualification: BSc, MSc, Ph.D
damus@am.amrita.edu
Ph: +91 8589039320
Research Interest: Cancer Biology, Inflammatory Diseases

Bio

Dr. Damu Sunilkumar currently serves as Faculty Associate at Amrita School of Biotechnology completed his Masters in Biotechnology from Amrita School of Biotechnology in 2011. He worked as a Guest Lecturer in the Department of Biotechnology at Government College Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram, India during 2011-2012.

He joined back Amrita School of Biotechnology in 2012 and pursued his doctoral degree in Biotechnology at Cell Biology Lab with a fellowship from the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), India.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Faculty of Sciences from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (2021).
  • MSc. Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (2011)
  • BSc. Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (2009)

Professional Appointments

  • Present: Faculty Associate, School of Biotechnology, Amritapuri
  • 2011-2012: Guest Lecturer in Department of Biotechnology, Government College Kariavattom, Kerala University, India.
Publications

Journal Article

Year : 2022

Systematic Understanding of Anti-tumor Mechanisms of Tamarixetin through network and Experimental Analyses

Cite this Research Publication : Sanu K. Shaji, Damu Sunilkumar, Dr. Geetha Kumar, and Dr. Bipin G. Nair, “Systematic understanding of anti-tumor mechanisms of tamarixetin through network and experimental analyses”, 39th Annual Conference of Indian Association for Cancer Research (IACR-2020): “Leading the Fight against Cancer”, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Trivandrum, Kerala, India, February 5-7. 2020.

Publisher : Scientific reports

Year : 2021

Nuclear factor-κB plays an important role in Tamarixetin-mediated inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression.

Cite this Research Publication : Shaji Sanu K., G. Drishya, Damu Sunilkumar, Nanjan Pandurangan, Dr. Geetha Kumar, and Dr. Bipin G. Nair, “Nuclear factor-κB plays an important role in Tamarixetin-mediated inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression.”, European Journal of Pharmacology, vol. 893, p. 173808, 2021.

Publisher : European Journal of Pharmacology

Year : 2020

Oxyresveratrol Drives Caspase-independent Apoptosis-like Cell Death in MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells through the Induction of ROS.

Cite this Research Publication : Damu Sunilkumar, Drishya G., Aneesh Chandrasekharan, Sanu K. Shaji, Chinchu Bose, Jennifer Jossart, J. Jefferson P. Perry, Dr. Nandita Mishra, Dr. Geetha Kumar, and Dr. Bipin G. Nair, “Oxyresveratrol drives caspase-independent apoptosis-like cell death in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells through the induction of ROS.”, Biochemical Pharmacology, p. 113724, 2020.

Publisher : Biochemical Pharmacology

Year : 2020

RECK and TIMP-2 mediate inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 by Annona muricata

Cite this Research Publication : Drishya G., Dr. Jyotsna Nambiar, Sanu K. Shaji, Muralidharan Vanuopadath, Achuthan A., Kumar Abishek, Alias Ashna, Ayesha Sherif, Catherine Joseph, Divya P., Damu Sunilkumar, Chinchu Bose, Dr. Sobha V. Nair, S. Sudarslal, Dr. Geetha Kumar, Lakshmi S., and Dr. Bipin G. Nair, “RECK and TIMP-2 mediate inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 by Annona muricata”, Journal of Biosciences, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 1-11, 2020.

Publisher : Journal of Biosciences

Year : 2019

Analysis of Microarray Data for Identification of key MicroRNA signatures in Glioblastoma Multiforme

Cite this Research Publication : Sanu K. Shaji, Damu Sunilkumar, Mahalakshmi N. V., Geetha B. Kumar, and Dr. Bipin G. Nair, “Analysis of microarray data for identification of key microRNA signatures in glioblastoma multiforme”, Oncol Lett, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 1938-1948, 2019.

Publisher : Oncology Letters

Year : 2017

Coconut Shell Derived Bioactive Compound Oxyresveratrol Mediates Regulation Of Matrix Metalloproteinase 9

Cite this Research Publication : Damu Sunilkumar, Chinchu Bose, Sanu K Shaji, Nanjan Pandurangan, Geetha B Kumar, Asoke Banerji, and Dr. Bipin G. Nair, “Coconut Shell Derived Bioactive Compound Oxyresveratrol Mediates Regulation Of Matrix Metalloproteinase 9”, International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 202 – 210, 2017.

Publisher : International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences

Year : 2014

Discovery of lesser known flavones as inhibitors of NF-κB signaling in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells—A SAR study

Cite this Research Publication : K. Amrutha, Pandurangan Nanjan, Sanu K Shaji, Damu Sunilkumar, Subhalakshmi, K., Rajakrishna, L., and Asoke Banerji, “Discovery of lesser known flavones as inhibitors of NF-κB signaling in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells—A SAR study”, Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters, vol. 24, no. 19, pp. 4735–4742, 2014

Publisher : Bioorganic medicinal chemistry letters

Conference Proceedings

Year : 2020

Role of AIF in Plumbagin induced Paraptosis-A caspase independent cell death in MDA-MB-231 cancer cells

Cite this Research Publication : Anupama Binoy, Divya Nedungadi, Damu Sunilkumar, Dr. Bipin G. Nair, and Dr. Nandita Mishra, “Role of AIF in Plumbagin induced Paraptosis-A caspase independent cell death in MDA-MB-231 cancer cells”, 39th Annual Conference of Indian Association for Cancer Research (IACR-2020): “Leading the Fight against Cancer”, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Trivandrum, Kerala, India, February 5-7. 2020.

Publisher : 39th Annual Conference of Indian Association for Cancer Research (IACR-2020): “Leading the Fight against Cancer”, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Trivandrum, Kerala, India

Year : 2017

MicroRNA-491 Functions to Down Regulate both Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 and Epidermal growth factor receptor expression and Inhibit Cell Migration in MDA-MB-231 Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells (Poster)

Cite this Research Publication : Sanu K Shaji, Damu Sunilkumar, Drishya G., Dr. Geetha Kumar, and Dr. Bipin G. Nair, “MicroRNA-491 functions to down regulate both matrix metalloproteinase-9 and epidermal growth factor receptor expression and inhibit cell migration in MDA-MB-231 triple negative breast cancer cells (Poster)”, 27th Swadeshi Science Congress. Amritapuri, 2017.

Publisher : 27th Swadeshi Science Congress

Year : 2015

Cocos Nucifera Shell Extract Down Regulates MMP-2, MMP-9 and Cell Migration in A375 Cells (Poster)

Cite this Research Publication : Damu Sunilkumar, Chinchu Bose, Sanu K Shaji, Dr. Asoke Banerji, Geetha B. Kumar, and Dr. Bipin G. Nair, “Cocos Nucifera Shell Extract Down Regulates MMP-2, MMP-9 and Cell Migration in A375 Cells (Poster)”, The XXXIX All India Cell Biology Conference . 2015

Publisher : The XXXIX All India Cell Biology Conference

Awards/Honor
  • Amrita Innovation and Research Award (2021)
  • Award of Appreciation from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, 2014
  • Awarded Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)- Senior Research Fellowship, India, 2014
  • Award of Excellence from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, 2012
  • Awarded Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)-Junior Research Fellowship, India, 2012
  • Awarded CSIR-UGC-NET for Lectureship, India, 2011
  • Qualified  Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE), India, 2011
Research

Research Experience

  1. The Project entitled “Modulatory Effect of Curcumin in Hypobaric Hypoxia-Induced  Pulmonary Edema-  A  Molecular  Approach  ”  has been carried out at  Defence Insitute of Physiology and Allied Science(DIPAS),  Lucknow  Road,  Timarpur, Delhi, under the guidance of Dr. S. Sarada Suryakumari.
  2. The project entitled “Antimicrobial Activity of Different Allopathic, Homeopathic and Ayurvedic Medicines against Klebsiella Pneumoniae” was carried under the guidance of Ms. Athira O., Amrita School of Biotechnology, Amritapuri, Kollam.

BRITE Projects

  1. Herbal thirst busters of Kerala- A factual analysis (2019)
  2. A study on phytochemicals from Cerbera odollam and screening of potential inhibitors on sodium-potassium ion channel (2020)
Teaching
  • BIO584: Immunology – Labs | M.Sc. Biotechnology/ Semester 3
  • MIC103: Introductory Biology | B.Sc. Biotechnology and B.Sc. Microbiology/ Semester 1
  • BIO204: Cell Biology | B.Sc. Biotechnology and B.Sc. Microbiology/ Semester 3
  • BIO319: Pharmacology | B.Sc. Biotechnology and B.Sc. Microbiology/ Semester 6
  • BIO282: Immunology – Lab | B.Sc.Biotechnology and B.Sc. Microbiology/ Semester 4
  • BIO281: Cell & Molecular Biology – Lab | B.Sc. Biotechnology and B.Sc. Microbiology/ Semester 3
  • BIO399: BRITE (B.Sc. Research Initiative Towards Excellence) Projects (B.Sc. Biotechnology and B.Sc. Microbiology/ Semester 6)
Memberships
  • Life Member -Indian Society of Cell Biology (ISCB)
Conferences/Workshops Attended
  • 2014: Hands-On Training in Flow Cytometry workshop held at C-CAMP at NCBS campus, Bangalore,India.
  • 2014: 33rd Annual Convention of Indian Association for Cancer Research, organized by Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
  • 2013: International Conference on Biotechnology for Innovative Applications at Amritapuri, Kollam, Kerala, India
  • 2010: International Conference on Cancer Biology: Molecular Mechanisms and Novel Therapeutics (2010), IIT Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  • 2010: Indian Association for Cancer Research 29th Annual Convention (2010), AIMS, Cochin, Kerala, India.
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