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Faculty

Dr. Poonkuzhali Balasubramanian

Dr. Poonkuzhali Balasubramanian, M.Sc., Ph.D

Professor

Pharmacogenetics of anticancer agents, Molecular genetics of leukemia, Anticancer drug resistance, Conditioning regimen in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Research interests

Anticancer Drug Resistance- Mechanisms and Modulation

We are trying to understand the mechanisms of anticancer drug resistance in myeloid leukemias. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a biologically, clinically and genetically heterogeneous disease characterized by increased proliferation and defective maturation affecting the cells of the myeloid lineage. The backbone of AML treatment for the last 30 years has been the combination of daunorubicin and cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C). The BCR/ABL tyrosine kinase Imatinib mesylate (IM) is the mainstay of treatment for CML but does not eliminate primitive leukemia stem and progenitor cells. Residual leukemia cells are a potential source of relapse, and there is considerable interest in identifying additional therapeutic targets to selectively induce apoptosis in leukemic stem and progenitor cells. We attempt to extend the understanding of novel biology of leukemias with an effort to understand potential novel targets in AML, as well as to better understand mechanisms of resistance and intolerance to therapy in Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Our research is proposed to identify novel NHR genes as drug targets to overcome drug resistance in myeloid leukemias.

Targeted therapy with BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors has tremendously improved the outcome of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, about 15-20% patients treated with imatinib develop resistance or intolerance to the drug resulting in disease progression. Hence adequate molecular tools are required to diagnose, prognosticate and monitor minimal residual disease to make appropriate decisions on continuing therapy or changing. This decision process is compounded by the high cost of these second generation drugs in a predominantly self-paying system as exists in our country. In this project we plan to work towards an integrated model with a combination of the existing and novel parameters to more accurately prognosticate response to therapy in these patients. We believe that such a model working towards a cost effective therapy in patients with CML is critical for patients in our country where the cost of second generation TKI is prohibitive for most. Using a multidisciplinary approach, we anticipate that this study will have sufficient strength to arrive at genetic/prognostic signatures to identify poor responders and personalize therapy which could result in better treatment outcome. By exploring the mechanisms of disease progression, intolerance and resistance to imatinib using various genomic and cellular approaches, we anticipate that this study will eventually aid in personalizing tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy in this disease.

Personalizing conditioning regimen in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Another major area of research in our laboratory is personalizing the conditioning regimen used in preparing patients for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Please see the link below for more details.
( www.wellcomedbt.org/fellowsprofile/main/research/id/237)

Team

Research Fellows

Ms. Bharathi Rajamani

Senior Research Fellow

Ph.D student (Thiruvalluvar university, Vellore)

Modulation of tyrosine kinase resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)- Identification of novel nuclear hormone receptor (NHR) as a drug target in tyrosine kinase resistant CML.

Mr.Stallon Illangeswaran R.S.

Senior Research Fellow

My work focuses on targetting the nuclear hormone receptor family to overcome drug resistance and leukemic stem cells in acute myeloid leukaemia

Ph.D student (Thiruvalluvar university, Vellore)

Ms. Saswati Das

UGC Senior Research Fellow

Ph.D student (Thiruvalluvar university, Vellore)

My work basically focuses on: The modulation of chemoresistance in Acute myeloid leukemia targeting epigenetic factors

Ms. Esther Sathyabama

DST-INSPIRE Senior Research Fellow​

PhD Student (SCTIMST, Trivandrum)

My work focuses on modelling patient derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to understand drug resistant mechanisms in chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)

Mr. Aswin Anand Pai

DBT Senior Research Fellow

PhD Student (SCTIMST, Trivandrum)

My research involves personalizing conditioning regimen in Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. I specifically focus on exploring Pharmacokinetics (PK), Pharmacogenomics (PG) and Pharmacodynamics (PD) of Treosulfan/Fludarabine which could help in optimizing stem cell transplantation for patients with beta-Thalassemia.

Mr. Daniel Zechariah Paul

Senior Research Fellow (ICMR-SRF)

PhD. Student (MAHE, Manipal)

My work primarily focuses on understanding the NRF2 mediated acquired drug resistance in AML to chemotherapeutic agents such as cytarabine, anthracycline and arsenic trioxide.

Ms. Rakhi T V

CSIR/UGC Junior Research Fellow

PhD Student (RCB, Faridabad)

My work focuses on understanding mechanisms mediating acquired resistance in acute myeloid leukemia.

Ms. Nayanthara K B

CSIR/UGC Junior Research Fellow

PhD Student (RCB, Faridabad)

My work focuses on - "Optimizing cyclophosphamide usage in allogenic haematopoetic stem cell transplantation setting".

Research Technicians

  • Ms. Agila
  • Ms. Sangeetha

Alumni

Research Fellows:

  • Dr. Ajay Abraham, Postdoctoral fellow, University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Ms. Sukanya Ganesan
  • Ms. Lakshmi Kailasam
  • Ms. Preetha Markose, Research Professional, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
  • Ms. Ayisha Sithika M
  • Ms. Pravani Sukumaran
  • Dr. Savitha Varatharajan
  • Dr. Sreeja Karathedath - Scientist-I Research and development, Thermo Fischer scientific
  • Ms. Ezhilpavai Mohanan
  • Dr. Balaji, Assistant Professor, VIT

Short term project students

  • Mr. Keshav Bharadwaj, Shoolini University, Himachal Pradesh
  • Mr. Sudershan Dhiman, Shoolini University, Himachal Pradesh
  • Ms. Dantuluri Swati, VIT Vellore
  • Ms. Vrindha Ghambir, VIT Vellore
  • Mr. Stavan Arulanand, Amity University, New Delhi
  • Ms. Shravanthi, PSG Coimbatore
  • Ms. Nisha Jain, VIT Vellore
  • Ms. Kezia Kanimozhi, VIT Vellore

Research Support: Ongoing Research Projects as Principal Investigator-5

Title of Project Funding Agency Amount (Lakhs) Date of sanction and Duration
Modulation of chemoresistance in acute myeloid leukemia by Nrf2 and its downstream targets Department of Science and Technology 45.4 September 2018,
36 months
ICMR Advanced Centre for Clinical Pharmacology in Hematological DiseasesAiming at Personalized Medicine ICMR 93.7 March 2018,
36 months
Personalizing conditioning regimen in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation Wellcome DBT 445 Oct2015, 60 months
Identification of novel nuclear receptors (NHR) drug targets in myeloid leukemia DBT 75.75 Nov2015, 60 months
Exploring the mechanisms of disease progression, tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance and intolerance in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia DBT 83.65 Nov2015, 60 months

Completed Research Projects (major projects of last 3 years)

Title of Project Funding Agency Amount (in lakhs INR) Date of completion
Pharmacokinetic, pharmacogenetic and pharmacodynamic analysis of fludarabine based conditioning regimen for HSCT DBT 61.87 Feb2013- Feb 2016
Pharmacogenetics of cytarabine and daunorubicin Resistance in the Leukemic Stem Cell Compartment in acute myeloid leukemia- Principal Investigator ICMR-INSERM 20.07 December1, 2010
2 years
Pharmacogenetics of cytarabine and daunorubicin in acute myeloid leukemia- Principal Investigator DBT 67.77 Feb 28, 2009 -2014 5 years
Mechanisms of imatinib resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia- Principal Investigator DBT 64.77 Feb 28, 2009 -2014 5 years

List of publications

  • Benjamin ESB, Ravindra N, Rajamani BM, Anandan S, Kausalya B, Veldore V, Mathews V, Shaji RV, Balasubramanian P. BCR-ABL1 kinase domain mutation analysis by next generation sequencing detected additional mutations in chronic myeloid leukemia patients with suboptimal response to imatinib. Leukemia Lymphoma (In Press).
  • Rajamani BM, Benjamin ESB, Abraham A, Ganesan S, Lakshmi KM, Anandan S, Karathedath S, Varatharajan S, Mohanan E, Janet NB, Srivastava VM, Ramachandran Velayudhan S, Kulkarni UP, Devasia AJ, Fouzia NA, Korula A, George B, Srivastava A, Mathews V, Balasubramanian P. Plasma imatinib levels and ABCB1 polymorphism influences early molecular response and failure-free survival in newly diagnosed chronic phase CML patients. Sci Rep. 2020 Nov 26;10(1):20640. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-77140-9. PMID: 33244077; PMCID: PMC7691501.
  • Fouzia NA, Sharma V, Ganesan S, Palani HK, Balasundaram N, David S, Kulkarni UP, Korula A, Devasia AJ, Nair SC, Janet NB, Abraham A, Mani T, Lakshmanan J, BalasubramanianP, George B, Mathews V. Management of relapse in acute promyelocytic leukaemia treated with up-front arsenic trioxide-based regimens. Br J Haematol. 2020 Nov 20. doi: 10.1111/bjh.17221. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33216980.
  • Devasia AJ, Illangeswaran RSS, Raj IX, George B, Balasubramanian P. NUDT15 polymorphism explains serious toxicity to azathioprine in Indian patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia and autoimmune hemolytic anemia: a case series. Drug Metab Pers Ther. 2020 Aug 18:/j/dmdi.ahead-of-print/dmdi-2020-0128/dmdi-2020-0128.xml. doi: 10.1515/dmpt-2020-0128. Epub aheadof print. PMID: 32827393.
  • Balaji Balakrishnan, Raveen Stephen Stallon Illangeswaran, Bharathi M Rajamani, Aswin Anand Pai, Infencia Xavier Raj, Daniel Zechariah Paul, Kavitha Lakshmi, Thenmozhi Mani, Ezhilpavai Mohanan, Uday Kulkarni, Anup Joseph Devasia, Fouzia NA, Anu Korula, Aby Abraham, Alok Srivastava, Vikram Mathews, Sophie Paczesny, Biju George, Poonkuzhali Balasubramanian. Prognostic plasma biomarkers of early complications and graft‐versus‐host disease in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. EJHaem. 2020 Jul;1(1):219-229. doi: 10.1002/jha2.26. Epub 2020 Jun 17. PMID: 32885223
  • Arunachalam AK, Janet NB, Korula A, Lakshmi KM, Kulkarni UP, Aboobacker FN, Abraham A, George B, Balasubramanian P, Mathews V. Prognostic value of MRD monitoring based on BCR-ABL1 copy numbers in Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma. 2020 Aug 27:1-8. doi: 10.1080/10428194.2020.1811272. Online ahead of print.PMID: 32852239
  • Maddali M, Kulkarni UP, Ravindra N, Jajodia E, Arunachalam AK, Suresh H, Venkatraman A, George B, Mathews V, Balasubramanian P. JAK2 exon 12 mutations in cases with JAK2V617F-negative polycythemia vera and primary myelofibrosis. Ann Hematol. 2020 May;99(5):983-989. doi: 10.1007/s00277-020-04004-7. Epub 2020 Apr10. PMID: 32277273.
  • Kulkarni U, Ganesan S, Alex AA, Palani H, David S, Balasundaram N, Venkatraman A, Thenmozhi M, Jeyaseelan L, Korula A, Devasia A, Abraham A, Janet NB, Balasubramanian P, George B, Mathews V. A phase II study evaluating the role of bortezomib in the management of relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia treated upfront with arsenic trioxide. Cancer Med. 2020 Apr;9(8):2603-2610. doi: 10.1002/cam4.2883. Epub 2020 Feb 14. PMID: 32059085; PMCID: PMC7163093.
  • Bankar A, Korula A, Kulkarni UP, Devasia AJ, Na F, Lionel S, Abraham A, Balasubramanian P, Janet NB, Nair SC, S S, Jeyaseelan V, N J, Prasad J, George B, Mathews V. Resource utilization and cost effectiveness of treating acute promyelocytic leukaemia using generic arsenic trioxide. Br J Haematol. 2020 Apr;189(2):269-278. doi: 10.1111/bjh.16343. Epub 2019 Dec 21. PMID: 31863602.
  • Pai AA, Devasia AJ, Panetta JC, Mani S, Stallon Illangeswaran RS, Mohanan E, Balakrishnan B, Lakshmi KM, Kulkarni U, Aboobacker FN, Korula A, Abraham A, Srivastava A, Mathews V, George B, Balasubramanian P. Pharmacokinetics and Efficacy of Generic Melphalan Is Comparable to Innovator Formulation in Patients With Multiple Myeloma Undergoing Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 2020 Feb;20(2):130-135.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.clml.2019.08.013. Epub 2019 Oct 4. PMID: 31791694; PMCID: PMC7115908.
  • Arunachalam AK, Suresh H, Edison ES, Korula A, Aboobacker FN, George B, Shaji RV, Mathews V, Balasubramanian P. Screening of genetic variants in ELANE mutation negative congenital neutropenia by next generation sequencing. J Clin Pathol. 2020 Jun;73(6):322-327. doi: 10.1136/jclinpath-2019-206306. Epub 2019 Nov 15. PMID: 31732620.
  • Baccarani M, Iacobucci I, Chiaretti S, Foà' R, Balasubramanian P, Paietta E, Foroni L, Jeromin S, Izzo B, Spinelli O, Varma N, Menif S, Terragna C, Seth T, Bidet A, Coriu D, Lunghi F, Mayer J, Scappini B, Langabeer S, Maier J, Burt E, Candoni A, Albano F, Luppi M, Zupan I, Lion T, Zadro R, di Raimondo F, Poopak B, Rege-Cambrin G, Annunziata M, Ayala A, Salinas-Viedma V, Ines Prado A, Milner B, Galimberti S, Janssen J, Polli V, Comba L, Borsellino B, Annibali O, Crugnola M, Passamonti F. In Ph+BCR-ABL1P210+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia the e13a2 (B2A2) transcript is prevalent. Leukemia. 2020 Mar;34(3):929-931. doi: 10.1038/s41375-019-0591-9. Epub 2019 Oct 8. PMID: 31595038.
  • Ganesan S, Palani HK, Lakshmanan V, Balasundaram N, Alex AA, David S, Venkatraman A, Korula A, George B, Balasubramanian P, Palakodeti D, Vyas N, Mathews V. Stromal cells downregulate miR-23a-5p to activate protective autophagy in acute myeloid leukemia. Cell Death Dis. 2019 Sep 30;10(10):736. doi: 10.1038/s41419-019-1964-8. PMID: 31570693; PMCID: PMC6769009.
  • Illangeswaran RSS, Das S, Paul DZ, Mathews V, Balasubramanian P. A personalized approach to acute myeloid leukemia therapy: current options. Pharmgenomics Pers Med. 2019 Aug 2;12:167-179. doi: 10.2147/PGPM.S168267. PMID: 31447578; PMCID: PMC6684879.
  • Maddali M, Balasubramanian P. Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus. 2019 Jan;35(1):17-21. doi: 10.1007/s12288-018-01068-4. Epub 2019 Jan 17.Applications of Next Generation Sequencing in Haematological Disorders-Indian Status: Updates from ISHBT 2018.
  • Michele BACCARANI1, Fausto CASTAGNETTI1, Gabriele GUGLIOTTA1, Gianantonio ROSTI1, Simona SOVERINI1 and Markus PFIRRMANN2 for the INTERNATIONAL BCR-ABL STUDY GROUP3 The incidence of different BCR-ABL1 transcript types in chronic myeloid leukemia. An international overview. Leukemia. 2019 Jan 23. doi: 10.1038/s41375-018-0341-4. [Epub ahead of print]
  • Vikram Mathews, Poonkuzhali Balasubramanian, Aby Abraham, Biju George Alok Srivastava. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation for thalassemia major in India. Pediatric Hematology Oncology JournalVolume 2, Issue 4, December 2017, Pages 114-120.
  • Arunachalam AK, Suresh H, Mathews V, Balasubramanian P. Allele Specific PCR: ACost Effective Screening Method for MPL Mutations in MyeloproliferativeNeoplasms. Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus. 2018 Oct;34(4):765-767. doi:10.1007/s12288-018-0982-5. Epub 2018 Jul 16. PubMed PMID: 30369762; PubMedCentral PMCID: PMC6186221.
  • Jain P, Korula A, Deshpande P, Pn N, Abu Alex A, Abraham A, Srivastava A,Janet NB, Lakshmi KM, Balasubramanian P. George B, Mathews V. Adult AcuteLymphoblastic Leukemia: Limitations of Intensification of Therapy in a DevelopingCountry. J Glob Oncol. 2018 Sep;(4):1-12. doi: 10.1200/JGO.17.00014. PubMed PMID:30222028.
  • Arun AK, Senthamizhselvi A, Hemamalini S, Edison ES, Korula A, Fouzia NA,George B, Mathews V, Balasubramanian P. Spectrum of ELANE mutations in congenitalneutropenia: a single-centre study in patients of Indian origin. J Clin Pathol.2018 Dec;71(12):1046-1050. doi: 10.1136/jclinpath-2018-205235. Epub 2018 Aug 31.PubMed PMID: 30171085.
  • Alex AA, Ganesan S, Palani HK, Balasundaram N, David S, Lakshmi KM, KulkarniUP, Nisham PN, Korula A, Devasia AJ, Janet NB, Abraham A, Srivastava A, George B,Padua RA, Chomienne C, Balasubramanian P. Mathews V. Arsenic Trioxide Enhancesthe NK Cell Cytotoxicity Against Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia WhileSimultaneously Inhibiting Its Bio-Genesis. Front Immunol. 2018 Jun 14;9:1357.doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01357. eCollection 2018. PubMed PMID: 29963052; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6010577.
  • Mohanan E, Panetta JC, Lakshmi KM, Edison ES, Korula A, Na F, Abraham A,Viswabandya A, George B, Mathews V, Srivastava A, Balasubramanian P. Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Treosulfan in Patients With Thalassemia Major Undergoing Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. ClinPharmacol Ther. 2018 Sep;104(3):575-583. doi: 10.1002/cpt.988. Epub 2018 Jan 17. PubMed PMID: 29247522; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6045930.
  • Ganapule A, Nemani S, Korula A, Lakshmi KM, Abraham A, Srivastava A, Balasubramanian P. George B, Mathews V. Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant for AcuteMyeloid Leukemia: Evolution of an Effective Strategy in India. J Glob Oncol. 2017Dec;3(6):773-781. doi: 10.1200/JGO.2016.006650. Epub 2017 Feb 8. PubMed PMID:29244983; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5735966.
  • Fouzia NA, Edison ES, Lakshmi KM, Korula A, Velayudhan SR, Balasubramanian P. Abraham A, Viswabandya A, George B, Mathews V, Srivastava A. Long-term outcome ofmixed chimerism after stem cell transplantation for thalassemia major conditionedwith busulfan and cyclophosphamide. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2018Feb;53(2):169-174. doi: 10.1038/bmt.2017.231. Epub 2017 Oct 16. PubMed PMID:29035392.
  • Karathedath S, Rajamani BM, Musheer Aalam SM, Abraham A, Varatharajan S, Krishnamurthy P, Mathews V, Velayudhan SR, Balasubramanian P. Role of NF-E2related factor 2 (Nrf2) on chemotherapy resistance in acute myeloid leukemia(AML) and the effect of pharmacological inhibition of Nrf2. PLoS One. 2017 May15;12(5):e0177227. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177227. eCollection 2017. PubMedPMID: 28505160; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5432104.
  • Mohanan E, Panetta JC, Lakshmi KM, Edison ES, Korula A, Fouzia NA, Abraham A,Viswabandya A, Mathews V, George B, Srivastava A, Balasubramanian P. Populationpharmacokinetics of fludarabine in patients with aplastic anemia and Fanconianemia undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Bone MarrowTransplant. 2017 Jul;52(7):977-983. doi: 10.1038/bmt.2017.79. Epub 2017 May 8.PubMed PMID: 28481355; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5584518.
  • Varatharajan S, Abraham A, Karathedath S, Ganesan S, Lakshmi KM, Arthur N,Srivastava VM, George B, Srivastava A, Mathews V, Balasubramanian P. ATP-binding casette transporter expression in acute myeloid leukemia: association with invitro cytotoxicity and prognostic markers. Pharmacogenomics. 2017Feb;18(3):235-244. doi: 10.2217/pgs-2016-0150. Epub 2017 Jan 23. PubMed PMID:28112576.
  • Arun AK, Senthamizhselvi A, Mani S, Vinodhini K, Janet NB, Lakshmi KM,Abraham A, George B, Srivastava A, Srivastava VM, Mathews V, Balasubramanian P.Frequency of rare BCR-ABL1 fusion transcripts in chronic myeloid leukemiapatients. Int J Lab Hematol. 2017 Jun;39(3):235-242. doi: 10.1111/ijlh.12616.Epub 2016 Dec 29. PubMed PMID: 28035733.
  • Angi M, Kamath V, Yuvarani S, Meena J, Sitaram U, Manipadam MT, Nair S,Ganapule A, Fouzia NA, Abraham A, Viswabandya A, Poonkuzhali B, George B, MathewsV, Srivastava A, Srivastava VM. The t(8;14)(q24.1;q32) and its varianttranslocations: A study of 34 cases. Hematol Oncol Stem Cell Ther. 2017Sep;10(3):126-134. doi: 10.1016/j.hemonc.2017.03.002. Epub 2017 Mar 31. PubMedPMID: 28390216.
  • Ganesan S, Alex AA, Chendamarai E, Balasundaram N, Palani HK, David S,Kulkarni U, Aiyaz M, Mugasimangalam R, Korula A, Abraham A, Srivastava A, PaduaRA, Chomienne C, George B, Balasubramanian P. Mathews V. Rationale and efficacyof proteasome inhibitor combined with arsenic trioxide in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Leukemia. 2016 Nov;30(11):2169-2178. doi:10.1038/leu.2016.227. Epub 2016 Aug 18. PubMed PMID: 27560113; PubMed CentralPMCID: PMC5097069.
  • Varatharajan S, Panetta JC, Abraham A, Karathedath S, Mohanan E, Lakshmi KM, Arthur N, Srivastava VM, Nemani S, George B, Srivastava A, Mathews V,Balasubramanian P. Population pharmacokinetics of Daunorubicin in adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2016Nov;78(5):1051-1058. Epub 2016 Oct 13. PubMed PMID: 27738808.
  • Deshpande PA, Srivastava VM, Mani S, Anandhan S, Meena J, Abraham A,Viswabandya A, George B, Srivastava A, Mathews V, Balasubramanian P. AtypicalBCR-ABL1 fusion transcripts in adult B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia, including a novel fusion transcript-e8a1. Leuk Lymphoma. 2016 Oct;57(10):2481-4. doi:10.3109/10428194.2016.1151512. Epub 2016 Mar 4. PubMed PMID: 26942999.
  • Philip C, George B, Korula A, Srivastava A, Balasubramanian P. Mathews V.Treatment rates of paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia: a view from three tertiarycentres in India - response to Gupta et al. Br J Haematol. 2016Oct;175(2):347-349. doi: 10.1111/bjh.13857. Epub 2015 Dec 2. PubMed PMID:26627639.
  • Abraham A, Varatharajan S, Karathedath S, Philip C, Lakshmi KM, Jayavelu AK, Mohanan E, Janet NB, Srivastava VM, Shaji RV, Zhang W, Abraham A, Viswabandya A, George B, Chandy M, Srivastava A, Mathews V, Balasubramanian P. RNA expression ofgenes involved in cytarabine metabolism and transport predicts cytarabineresponse in acute myeloid leukemia. Pharmacogenomics. 2015 Jul;16(8):877-90. doi:10.2217/pgs.15.44. Epub 2015 Jun 17. PubMed PMID: 26083014.
  • Philip C, George B, Ganapule A, Korula A, Jain P, Alex AA, Lakshmi KM,Sitaram U, Abubacker FN, Abraham A, Viswabandya A, Srivastava VM, Srivastava A,Balasubramanian P. Mathews V. Acute myeloid leukaemia: challenges and real world data from India. Br J Haematol. 2015 Jul;170(1):110-7. doi: 10.1111/bjh.13406.Epub 2015 Apr 9. PubMed PMID: 25858293; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4864448.
  • Chendamarai E, Ganesan S, Alex AA, Kamath V, Nair SC, Nellickal AJ, Janet NB,Srivastava V, Lakshmi KM, Viswabandya A, Abraham A, Aiyaz M, Mullapudi N,Mugasimangalam R, Padua RA, Chomienne C, Chandy M, Srivastava A, George B,Balasubramanian P. Mathews V. Comparison of newly diagnosed and relapsed patientswith acute promyelocytic leukemia treated with arsenic trioxide: insight into mechanisms of resistance. PLoS One. 2015 Mar 30;10(3):e0121912. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0121912. eCollection 2015. PubMed PMID: 25822503; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4378855.
  • Arora N, Nair S, Pai R, Nair S, Ahmed R, Abraham A, Viswabandya A, George B, Balasubramanian P. Srivastava A, Mathews V. V-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogenehomolog B (BRAF) mutations in hairy cell leukaemia. Indian J Pathol Microbiol.2015 Jan-Mar;58(1):62-5. doi: 10.4103/0377-4929.151190. PubMed PMID: 25673595.
  • Abraham A, Devasia AJ, Varatharajan S, Karathedath S, Balasubramanian P.Mathews V. Effect of cytosine arabinoside metabolizing enzyme expression on drug toxicity in acute myeloid leukemia. Ann Hematol. 2015 May;94(5):883-5. doi:10.1007/s00277-014-2254-2. Epub 2014 Nov 13. PubMed PMID: 25391240; PubMedCentral PMCID: PMC5681861.
  • Rajagopal V, Sundaresan L, Rajkumar AP, Chittybabu C, Kuruvilla A, SrivastavaA, Balasubramanian P. Jacob KS, Jacob M. Genetic association between the DRD4promoter polymorphism and clozapine-induced sialorrhea. Psychiatr Genet. 2014Dec;24(6):273-6. doi: 10.1097/YPG.0000000000000058. PubMed PMID: 25304228.
  • Abraham A, Karathedath S, Kumaraswamy V, Jayavelu AK, Mani S, Srivastava VM, Zhang W, Zhou T, George B, Srivastava A, Mathews V, Balasubramanian P. Novel NPM1mutation in the 3'-untranslated region identified in two patients with acutemyeloid leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma. 2014 Jun;55(6):1421-4. doi:10.3109/10428194.2013.838235. Epub 2013 Oct 9. PubMed PMID: 23998253.
  • Abraham A, Karathedath S, Varatharajan S, Markose P, Chendamarai E, Jayavelu AK, George B, Srivastava A, Mathews V, Balasubramanian P. ABCB6 RNA expression inleukemias--expression is low in acute promyelocytic leukemia andFLT3-ITD-positive acute myeloid leukemia. Ann Hematol. 2014 Mar;93(3):509-12.doi: 10.1007/s00277-013-1821-2. Epub 2013 Jun 22. PubMed PMID: 23793916.
  • Desire S, Mohanan EP, George B, Mathews V, Chandy M, Srivastava A,Balasubramanian P. A rapid & sensitive liquid chromatography- tandem massspectrometry method for the quantitation of busulfan levels in plasma &application for routine therapeutic monitoring in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Indian J Med Res. 2013 Apr;137(4):777-84. PubMed PMID: 23703347;PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3724260.
  • Rajkumar AP, Poonkuzhali B, Kuruvilla A, Srivastava A, Jacob M, Jacob KS.Association between CYP1A2 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms and clinicalresponses to clozapine in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. ActaNeuropsychiatr. 2013 Feb;25(1):2-11. doi: 10.1111/j.1601-5215.2012.00638.x.PubMed PMID: 26953068.
  • Rajkumar AP, Poonkuzhali B, Kuruvilla A, Jacob M, Jacob KS. Clinicalpredictors of serum clozapine levels in patients with treatment-resistantschizophrenia. Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2013 Jan;28(1):50-6. doi:10.1097/YIC.0b013e32835ac9da. PubMed PMID: 23104241.
  • Agarwala MK, George R, Mathews V, Balasubramanian P. Thomas M, Nair S. Roleof imatinib in the treatment of pediatric onset indolent systemic mastocytosis: acase report. J Dermatolog Treat. 2013 Dec;24(6):481-3. doi:10.3109/09546634.2013.802274. Epub 2013 May 30. PubMed PMID: 23659595.
  • Varatharajan S, Abraham A, Zhang W, Shaji RV, Ahmed R, Abraham A, George B,Srivastava A, Chandy M, Mathews V, Balasubramanian P. Carbonyl reductase 1expression influences daunorubicin metabolism in acute myeloid leukemia. Eur JClin Pharmacol. 2012 Dec;68(12):1577-86. doi: 10.1007/s00228-012-1291-9. Epub2012 May 5. PubMed PMID: 22562609.
  • Chendamarai E, Balasubramanian P. George B, Viswabandya A, Abraham A, AhmedR, Alex AA, Ganesan S, Lakshmi KM, Sitaram U, Nair SC, Chandy M, Janet NB,Srivastava VM, Srivastava A, Mathews V. Role of minimal residual diseasemonitoring in acute promyelocytic leukemia treated with arsenic trioxide infrontline therapy. Blood. 2012 Apr 12;119(15):3413-9. doi:10.1182/blood-2011-11-393264. Epub 2012 Feb 28. PubMed PMID: 22374701.
  • Abraham A, Varatharajan S, Abbas S, Zhang W, Shaji RV, Ahmed R, Abraham A,George B, Srivastava A, Chandy M, Mathews V, Balasubramanian P. Cytidinedeaminase genetic variants influence RNA expression and cytarabine cytotoxicityin acute myeloid leukemia. Pharmacogenomics. 2012 Feb;13(3):269-82. doi:10.2217/pgs.11.149. PubMed PMID: 22304580.
  • Rajkumar AP, Poonkuzhali B, Kuruvilla A, Srivastava A, Jacob M, Jacob KS.Outcome definitions and clinical predictors influence pharmacogeneticassociations between HTR3A gene polymorphisms and response to clozapine inpatients with schizophrenia. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2012 Dec;224(3):441-9.doi: 10.1007/s00213-012-2773-2. Epub 2012 Jun 15. PubMed PMID: 22700043.
  • Balasubramanian P. Chendamarai E, Markose P, Fletcher L, Branford S, GeorgeB, Mathews V, Chandy M, Srivastava A. International reporting scale of BCR-ABL1fusion transcript in chronic myeloid leukemia: first report from India. ActaHaematol. 2012;127(3):135-42. doi: 10.1159/000334716. Epub 2012 Jan 12. PubMedPMID: 22249155.
  • Balasubramanian P. Desire S, Panetta JC, Lakshmi KM, Mathews V, George B,Viswabandya A, Chandy M, Krishnamoorthy R, Srivastava A. Populationpharmacokinetics of cyclophosphamide in patients with thalassemia majorundergoing HSCT. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2012 Sep;47(9):1178-85. doi:10.1038/bmt.2011.254. Epub 2012 Jan 9. PubMed PMID: 22231460.
  • Parihar M, Kumar JA, Sitaram U, Balasubramanian P. Abraham A, Viswabandya A, George B, Mathews V, Srivastava A, Srivastava VM. Cytogenetic analysis of acutemyeloid leukemia with t(8;21) from a tertiary care center in India withcorrelation between clinicopathologic characteristics and molecular analysis.Leuk Lymphoma. 2012 Jan;53(1):103-9. doi: 10.3109/10428194.2011.603447. Epub 2011Sep 2. PubMed PMID: 21745004.
  • Bugalia A, Abraham A, Balasubramanian P. Srivastava A, Nair S. Mast cellsarcoma of the small intestine: a case report. J Clin Pathol. 2011Nov;64(11):1035-7. doi: 10.1136/jclinpath-2011-200154. Epub 2011 Jul 21. PubMedPMID: 21778298.
  • A P R, C C, S B, B P, A K, K S J. Clinical Predictors of Response to Clozapinein Patients with Treatment Resistant Schizophrenia. Psychopharmacol Bull. 2011Sep 15;44(3):51-65. Review. PubMed PMID: 27738362; PubMed Central PMCID:PMC5044549.
  • Gupta M, Ashok Kumar J, Sitaram U, Neeraj S, Nancy A, Balasubramanian P.Abraham A, Mathews V, Viswabandya A, George B, Chandy M, Srivastava A, SrivastavaVM. The t(6;9)(p22;q34) in myeloid neoplasms: a retrospective study of 16 cases. Cancer Genet Cytogenet. 2010 Dec;203(2):297-302. doi: 10.1016/j.cancergencyto.2010.08.012. PubMed PMID: 21156248.
  • Mathews V, George B, Chendamarai E, Lakshmi KM, Desire S, Balasubramanian P. Viswabandya A, Thirugnanam R, Abraham A, Shaji RV, Srivastava A, Chandy M.Single-agent arsenic trioxide in the treatment of newly diagnosed acutepromyelocytic leukemia: long-term follow-up data. J Clin Oncol. 2010 Aug20;28(24):3866-71. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2010.28.5031. Epub 2010 Jul 19. PubMed PMID: 20644086.
  • Markose P, Chendamarai E, Balasubramanian P. Velayudhan SR, Srivastava VM,Mathews V, George B, Viswabandya A, Srivastava A, Chandy M. Spectrum of BCR-ABLkinase domain mutations in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia from India withsuspected resistance to imatinib-mutations are rare and have differentdistributions. Leuk Lymphoma. 2009 Dec;50(12):2092-5. doi:10.3109/10428190903332486. PubMed PMID: 19925053.
  • Desire S, Balasubramanian P. Bajel A, George B, Viswabandya A, Mathews V,Srivastava A, Chandy M. Frequency of TPMT alleles in Indian patients with acutelymphatic leukemia and effect on the dose of 6-mercaptopurine. Med Oncol. 2010Dec;27(4):1046-9. doi: 10.1007/s12032-009-9331-8. Epub 2009 Oct 15. PubMed PMID: 19830600.
  • Thirugnanam R, George B, Chendamarai E, Lakshmi KM, Balasubramanian P.Viswabandya A, Srivastava A, Chandy M, Mathews V. Comparison of clinical outcomesof patients with relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia induced with arsenictrioxide and consolidated with either an autologous stem cell transplant or anarsenic trioxide-based regimen. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2009Nov;15(11):1479-84. doi: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2009.07.010. Epub 2009 Sep 1. PubMedPMID: 19822309.
  • Deeken JF, Robey RW, Shukla S, Steadman K, Chakraborty AR, Poonkuzhali B,Schuetz EG, Holbeck S, Ambudkar SV, Bates SE. Identification of compounds thatcorrelate with ABCG2 transporter function in the National Cancer InstituteAnticancer Drug Screen. Mol Pharmacol. 2009 Nov;76(5):946-56. doi: 10.1124/mol.109.056192. Epub2009 Jul 24. PubMed PMID: 19633067; PubMed CentralPMCID: PMC2774997.
  • Krishnamurthy P, Schwab M, Takenaka K, Nachagari D, Morgan J, Leslie M, Du W, Boyd K, Cheok M, Nakauchi H, Marzolini C, Kim RB, Poonkuzhali B, Schuetz E, EvansW, Relling M, Schuetz JD. Transporter-mediated protection againstthiopurine-induced hematopoietic toxicity. Cancer Res. 2008 Jul 1;68(13):4983-9. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-07-6790. PubMed PMID: 18593894; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3323115.
  • Rudin CM, Liu W, Desai A, Karrison T, Jiang X, Janisch L, Das S, Ramirez J,Poonkuzhali B, Schuetz E, Fackenthal DL, Chen P, Armstrong DK, Brahmer JR,Fleming GF, Vokes EE, Carducci MA, Ratain MJ. Pharmacogenomic and pharmacokineticdeterminants of erlotinib toxicity. J Clin Oncol. 2008 Mar 1;26(7):1119-27. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2007.13.1128. PubMed PMID: 18309947; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5846189.
  • Poonkuzhali B, Lamba J, Strom S, Sparreboom A, Thummel K, Watkins P, SchuetzE. Association of breast cancer resistance protein/ABCG2 phenotypes and novelpromoter and intron 1 single nucleotide polymorphisms. Drug Metab Dispos. 2008Apr;36(4):780-95. doi: 10.1124/dmd.107.018366. Epub 2008 Jan 7. PubMed PMID:18180275.
  • Marzolini C, Tirona RG, Gervasini G, Poonkuzhali B, Assem M, Lee W, Leake BF,Schuetz JD, Schuetz EG, Kim RB. A common polymorphism in the bile acid receptorfarnesoid X receptor is associated with decreased hepatic target gene expression.Mol Endocrinol. 2007 Aug;21(8):1769-80. Epub 2007 May 22. PubMed PMID: 17519356.
  • Sellathamby S, Balasubramanian P. Sivalingam S, Shaji RV, Mathews V, GeorgeB, Viswabandya A, Srivastava A, Chandy M. Developing an algorithm of informative markers for evaluation of chimerism after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.Bone Marrow Transplant. 2006 Apr;37(8):751-5. PubMed PMID: 16518431.
  • Mathews V, George B, Lakshmi KM, Viswabandya A, Bajel A, Balasubramanian P.Shaji RV, Srivastava VM, Srivastava A, Chandy M. Single-agent arsenic trioxide inthe treatment of newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia: durable remissionswith minimal toxicity. Blood. 2006 Apr 1;107(7):2627-32. Epub 2005 Dec 13. PubMedPMID: 16352810.
  • Chandy M, Balasubramanian P. Ramachandran SV, Mathews V, George B, DennisonD, Krishnamoorthy R, Srivastava A. Randomized trial of two different conditioningregimens for bone marrow transplantation in thalassemia--the role of busulfanpharmacokinetics in determining outcome. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2005Nov;36(10):839-45. PubMed PMID: 16151422.
  • Poonkuzhali B, Shaji RV, Salamun DE, George B, Srivastava A, Chandy M.Cytochrome P4501A1 and glutathione S transferase gene polymorphisms in patientswith aplastic anemia in India. Acta Haematol. 2005;114(3):127-32. PubMed PMID:16227674.
  • George B, Poonkuzhali B, Srivastava VM, Chandy M, Srivastava A. Hematologicaland molecular remission with combination chemotherapy in a patient withPLZF-RARalpha acute promyelocytic leukemia (APML). Ann Hematol. 2005Jun;84(6):406-8. Epub 2004 Dec 7. PubMed PMID: 15592671.
  • George B, Mathews V, Poonkuzhali B, Shaji RV, Srivastava A, Chandy M.Treatment of children with newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia witharsenic trioxide: a single center experience. Leukemia. 2004 Oct;18(10):1587-90. PubMed PMID: 15356649.
  • Srivastava A, Poonkuzhali B, Shaji RV, George B, Mathews V, Chandy M,Krishnamoorthy R. Glutathione S-transferase M1 polymorphism: a risk factor forhepatic venoocclusive disease in bone marrow transplantation. Blood. 2004 Sep1;104(5):1574-7. Epub 2004 May 13. PubMed PMID: 15142875.
  • George B, Mathews L, Balasubramanian P. Shaji RV, Srivastava A, Chandy M.Molecular remission with arsenic trioxide in patients with newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia. Haematologica. 2004 Oct;89(10):1266-7. PubMed PMID:15477216.
  • Shaji RV, Edison ES, Poonkuzhali B, Srivastava A, Chandy M. Rapid detectionof beta-globin gene mutations and polymorphisms by temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis. Clin Chem. 2003 May;49(5):777-81. PubMed PMID: 12709369.
  • Mathews V, Balasubramanian P. Shaji RV, George B, Chandy M, Srivastava A.Arsenic trioxide in the treatment of newly diagnosed acute promyelocyticleukemia: a single center experience. Am J Hematol. 2002 Aug;70(4):292-9. PubMed PMID: 12210810.
  • Shivakumar S(1), Poonkhuzhali B, Gunasekaran S, Srivastava A, Chandy M. Cytogenetic, fluorescent in situ hybridization & reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis in acute promyelocytic leukaemia patients. Indian J Med Res. 2002 Feb;115:59-67. PMID: 12138666
  • Poonkuzhali B, Chandy M, Srivastava A, Dennison D, Krishnamoorthy R.Glutathione S-transferase activity influences busulfan pharmacokinetics inpatients with beta thalassemia major undergoing bone marrow transplantation. DrugMetab Dispos. 2001 Mar;29(3):264-7. PubMed PMID: 11181493.
  • Balasubramanian P. Chandy M, Krishnamoorthy R, Srivastava A. Evaluation ofexisting limited sampling models for busulfan kinetics in children with betathalassaemia major undergoing bone marrow transplantation. Bone MarrowTransplant. 2001 Nov;28(9):821-5. PubMed PMID: 11781641.
  • Mathews V, Balasubramanian P. Shaji RV, George B, Chandy M, Srivastava A.Central nervous system relapse in a patient with acute promyelocytic leukaemiatreated with arsenic tri-oxide. Br J Haematol. 2001 Apr;113(1):257-8. PubMedPMID: 11360894.
  • Balasubramanian P. Srivastava A, Chandy M. Stability of busulfan in frozenplasma and whole blood samples. Clin Chem. 2001 Apr;47(4):766-8. PubMed PMID:11274036.
  • Poonkuzhali B, Srivastava A, Quernin MH, Dennison D, Aigrain EJ,Kanagasabapathy AS, Krishnamoorthy R, Chandy M. Pharmacokinetics of oralbusulphan in children with beta thalassaemia major undergoing allogeneic bonemarrow transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant. 1999 Jul;24(1):5-11. PubMed PMID:10435727.
  • Quernin MH, Poonkuzhali B, Médard Y, Dennison D, Srivastava A, KrishnamoorthyR, Chandy M, Jacqz-Aigrain E. High-performance liquid chromatographic method for quantification of busulfan in plasma after derivatization bytetrafluorothiophenol. J Chromatogr B Biomed Sci Appl. 1999 Jan 8;721(1):147-52. PubMed PMID: 10027646.
  • Quernin MH, Poonkuzhali B, Montes C, Krishnamoorthy R, Dennison D, SrivastavaA, Vilmer E, Chandy M, Jacqz-Aigrain E. Quantification of busulfan in plasma bygas chromatography-mass spectrometry following derivatization withtetrafluorothiophenol. J Chromatogr B Biomed Sci Appl. 1998 May 8;709(1):47-56.PubMed PMID: 9653925.
  • Poonkuzhali B, Victoria J, Selvakumar R, Dennison D, Srivastava A, JeyaseelanL, Chandy M, Kanagasabapathy AS. Comparison of HPLC & EMIT methods ofcyclosporine assay in blood after bone marrow transplantation. Indian J Med Res. 1995 Jul; 102:39-41. PubMed PMID: 7558209.
  • Poonkuzhali B, Saraswathi CP, Rajalakshmi K. Effect of uric acid on sodiumoxalate-induced urolithiasis in rats--biochemical and histological evidences.Indian J Exp Biol. 1994 Jan;32(1):20-4. PubMed PMID: 8045600.

Education (Post-Graduation onwards & Professional Career)

Degree University/College Year Field of Study
Master of Science (Biochemistry) Madras University 1990-1992 Clinical Biochemistry
Ph.D. (Biochemistry) Christian Medical College, Vellore
Tamilnadu Dr. MGR Medical University 		1995-1999 Biochemistry/ Pharmacology-Pharmacokinetics
Post-Doctoral Fellowship St Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Memphis, TN, USA 		2007 Pharmaceutical Sciences/Pharmacogenetics
Post-Doctoral Fellowship University of Chicago 2007 March-September Pharmacogenetics/Pediatrics

Position and Honors (Position and Employment (Starting with the most recent employment)

University/College Position From (Date) To (date)
Christian Medical College, Vellore Professor November 2008 Till date
Christian Medical College, Vellore Associate Professor November 2006 November 2008
Christian Medical College, Vellore Reader November 2004 November 2006
St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee-USA Post-Doctoral Research Associate September 2004 February 2007
University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA Research Professional March 2007 September 2007

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