E. Premkumar Reddy
Encyclopedia
E. Premkumar Reddy is a biologist
. He obtained his Ph. D. in molecular biology
in 1971 from the Osmania University
, Hyderabad, India
. After post-doctoral training in the United States of America at the UCLA School of Medicine and the National Cancer Institute
(NCI), he joined the NCI, with which he was associated till 1984 as the chief of the molecular genetics
section.
In 1984, he moved to Hoffman LaRoche Roche Institute of molecular biology as a full member and in 1986, he joined the Wistar Institute
as their deputy director. In 1992, he was appointed as the Director of the Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, which is affiliated with Temple University
. He moved to the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 2010 where he is the Director of Experimental Cancer Therapeutics Institute and Professor in the Departments of Oncological Sciences and Structural and Chemical Biology. Dr. Reddy served as a member of the board of directors of NIEHS from 1990-1995. He co-founded the international cancer journal Oncogene in 1986, for which he served as an Editor from 1986 to 2009. In 2010, he fonded a new cancer journal named 'Genes & Cancer' for which he serves as the Editor-in-Chief. In 1993, he was awarded the Scientific Achievement award by the American Cancer Society
.
Reddy has published over 250 papers. The most notable of his findings are the molecular cloning
and sequence determination
of a number of viral
oncogene
s and their cellular homologues. In collaboration with Mariano Barbacid
, he was also one of the first to demonstrate that ras genes are activated in human cancer
s by point mutation
s. His most recent findings include the generation of A-myb and CDK4 null mutant
mice and delineation of the apoptotic mechanisms associated with hematopoietic cell death. His recent work centers around the role of cell cycle
and apoptotic genes in cancer progression and as targets for the development of novel anticancer drugs. This work has led to the development of novel therapeutic agents that can differentially induce apoptosis in tumor cells and spare normal cells. One of the drugs developed by his team (ON01910/Estybon) is currently in Phase II clinical trials and shows promise as a powerful anti-cancer agent, especially for the treatment of Myelo Dysplastic Syndrome (MDS).
According to data published in 2000 by the Institute of Scientific Information, which compiled the list of most highly cited authors, Dr. Reddy was amongst the top 0.5% of the most highly cited authors in the world.
Biologist
A biologist is a scientist devoted to and producing results in biology through the study of life. Typically biologists study organisms and their relationship to their environment. Biologists involved in basic research attempt to discover underlying mechanisms that govern how organisms work...
. He obtained his Ph. D. in molecular biology
Molecular biology
Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry...
in 1971 from the Osmania University
Osmania University
Osmania University , , since 1918, is a public university located in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. It was established and named after the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan. It is one of the oldest modern universities in India. It is the first Indian University to have Urdu and...
, Hyderabad, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. After post-doctoral training in the United States of America at the UCLA School of Medicine and the National Cancer Institute
National Cancer Institute
The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health , which is one of 11 agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NCI coordinates the U.S...
(NCI), he joined the NCI, with which he was associated till 1984 as the chief of the molecular genetics
Molecular genetics
Molecular genetics is the field of biology and genetics that studies the structure and function of genes at a molecular level. The field studies how the genes are transferred from generation to generation. Molecular genetics employs the methods of genetics and molecular biology...
section.
In 1984, he moved to Hoffman LaRoche Roche Institute of molecular biology as a full member and in 1986, he joined the Wistar Institute
Wistar Institute
The Wistar Institute is a biomedical center, with a focus on cancer research and vaccine development. It is located in the University City section of Philadelphia, Pa...
as their deputy director. In 1992, he was appointed as the Director of the Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, which is affiliated with Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
. He moved to the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 2010 where he is the Director of Experimental Cancer Therapeutics Institute and Professor in the Departments of Oncological Sciences and Structural and Chemical Biology. Dr. Reddy served as a member of the board of directors of NIEHS from 1990-1995. He co-founded the international cancer journal Oncogene in 1986, for which he served as an Editor from 1986 to 2009. In 2010, he fonded a new cancer journal named 'Genes & Cancer' for which he serves as the Editor-in-Chief. In 1993, he was awarded the Scientific Achievement award by the American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
.
Reddy has published over 250 papers. The most notable of his findings are the molecular cloning
Cloning
Cloning in biology is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually. Cloning in biotechnology refers to processes used to create copies of DNA fragments , cells , or...
and sequence determination
Sequence (biology)
A sequence in biology is the one-dimensional ordering of monomers, covalently linked within in a biopolymer; it is also referred to as the primary structure of the biological macromolecule.-See also:* Protein sequence* DNA sequence...
of a number of viral
Virus
A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of organisms. Viruses infect all types of organisms, from animals and plants to bacteria and archaea...
oncogene
Oncogene
An oncogene is a gene that has the potential to cause cancer. In tumor cells, they are often mutated or expressed at high levels.An oncogene is a gene found in the chromosomes of tumor cells whose activation is associated with the initial and continuing conversion of normal cells into cancer...
s and their cellular homologues. In collaboration with Mariano Barbacid
Mariano Barbacid
Mariano Barbacid is a Spanish molecular biologist who discovered the first oncogene....
, he was also one of the first to demonstrate that ras genes are activated in human cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
s by point mutation
Point mutation
A point mutation, or single base substitution, is a type of mutation that causes the replacement of a single base nucleotide with another nucleotide of the genetic material, DNA or RNA. Often the term point mutation also includes insertions or deletions of a single base pair...
s. His most recent findings include the generation of A-myb and CDK4 null mutant
Mutant
In biology and especially genetics, a mutant is an individual, organism, or new genetic character, arising or resulting from an instance of mutation, which is a base-pair sequence change within the DNA of a gene or chromosome of an organism resulting in the creation of a new character or trait not...
mice and delineation of the apoptotic mechanisms associated with hematopoietic cell death. His recent work centers around the role of cell cycle
Cell cycle
The cell cycle, or cell-division cycle, is the series of events that takes place in a cell leading to its division and duplication . In cells without a nucleus , the cell cycle occurs via a process termed binary fission...
and apoptotic genes in cancer progression and as targets for the development of novel anticancer drugs. This work has led to the development of novel therapeutic agents that can differentially induce apoptosis in tumor cells and spare normal cells. One of the drugs developed by his team (ON01910/Estybon) is currently in Phase II clinical trials and shows promise as a powerful anti-cancer agent, especially for the treatment of Myelo Dysplastic Syndrome (MDS).
According to data published in 2000 by the Institute of Scientific Information, which compiled the list of most highly cited authors, Dr. Reddy was amongst the top 0.5% of the most highly cited authors in the world.