This profile is part of a series to highlight the researchers who will be honored at a ceremony for UNMC’s 2015 Scientist Laureate, Research Leadership, Distinguished Scientist and New Investigator Award recipients.
The Distinguished Scientist Award
The Distinguished Scientist Award — which is sponsored by the chancellor — recognizes researchers who have been among the most productive scientists in the country during the past five years.
- Name: Ram Mahato, Ph.D.
- Title: Chair and professor of pharmaceutical sciences
- Joined UNMC: 2013
- Hometown: Janakpur, Nepal
Research focus:
Gene and drug delivery
Describe your research briefly in layman’s terms.
We are applying sound principles in pharmaceutical sciences in the context of the latest advances in life and material sciences to solve challenging drug delivery problems in therapeutics. Our lab is focused on understanding how drug/gene and gene/miRNA expression affect the state of diseases such as cancer, liver fibrosis and type 1 diabetes.
How does your research contribute to science and/or health care?
Our lab is using stem cells to stimulate immune tolerance in diabetes and liver fibrosis, and we are working to overcome drug resistance in tumors by targeting cancer stem cells. Furthermore, our research in gene delivery will be beneficial in improving islet transplantation for treating type 1 diabetes.
What is the best piece of advice anyone ever gave you, professional or personal?
One of my professors once told me, “Dreaming is wonderful, but making the dreams into reality is even better.”
List three things few people know about you.
- I have two children, Kalika (18) and Vivek (11)
- I have studied in five countries: Nepal, China, Britain, the United States and Japan.
- I was the first person in my family to go to high school and beyond.
Congratulations, Dr. Mahato! It is scientists like you that will take our health care and treatments into what was once a vision.
Congratulation, Dr. Mahato!