Gargi Ghosal, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Anatomy
Co-Director, Molecular Genetics & Cell Biology PhD Program
Co-Director, Molecular Genetics & Cell Biology MS Program
Dr. Ghosal's research focus is to examine the molecular basis of genome instability in cancer, aging and premature aging syndromes. Using cell and molecular biology, proteomics, and mouse genetic techniques, her lab studies the deregulation of replication stress response pathways upon DNA damage and oncogene activation with the focus on:
- Elucidating the molecular and physiological functions of SPRTN protease and DNA-protein crosslink (DPC) repair in Ruijs-Aalfs syndrome, DPC-induced cancer, and cancer therapeutics.
- Oncogene-induced replication stress response in Ewing sarcoma tumorigenesis.
- Identify and characterize enzymes that regulate replication stress response signaling and DNA repair to identify new targets and bio-markers for cancer therapy and facilitate the development of strategies to overcome drug resistance and/or improve cancer therapy.
Education
- Post-doc, Baylor College of Medicine - Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX
- Post-doc, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
- Post-doc, Yale University, New Haven, CT
- PhD, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
Research
- Genome instability in cancer and cancer predisposition syndromes such as Ruijs-Aalfs syndrome, Werner syndrome, Bloom syndrome, and Fanconi anemia.
- Molecular mechanisms of Replications stress response pathways, DNA damage response and DNA repair pathways.
Selected Publications
- Perry M, Biegert M, Kollala SS, Mallard H, Su G, Kodavati M, Kreiling N, Holbrook A, Ghosal G. USP11 mediates repair of DNA-protein crosslinks by deubiquitinating SPRTN metalloprotease. J Biol Chem. Feb 7, 2021. PMID: 33567341
- Isolation and immunodetection of enzymatic DNA-protein crosslinks by RADAR assay. Perry M and Ghosal G. Methods Mol Biol. 2023; 2701:135-148. PMID: 37574479
- USP1 expression driven by EWS::FLI1 transcription factor stabilizes Survivin and mitigates replication stress in Ewing sarcoma. Mallard H, Wan S, Nidhi P, Hanscom-trofy Y, Mohapatra B, Woods N, Lopez-Guerrero J A, Llombart-Bosch A, Machado I, Scotlandi K, Kreiling N, Perry M, Mirza S, Coulter D, Band V, Band H, and Ghosal G. Mol Cancer Res. Nov 1; 21(11):1186-1204. MCR-23-0323, PMID: 37478161 (Highlighted as Editor’s Pick for Nov 2023 issue)
Honors & Awards
- Joseph P. and Harriet K. Gilmore Distinguished New Investigator Award, 2023
- UNMC New Investigator Award, 2022
- K22 Career Development Award, NCI, 2016 - 2019