New investigator: Prakash Radhakrishnan, Ph.D.

This profile is part of a series to highlight the researchers who will be honored at a ceremony for UNMC’s 2017 Scientist Laureate, Distinguished Scientist and New Investigator Award recipients.

• Name: Prakash Radhakrishnan, Ph.D.
• Title: Assistant professor, UNMC Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases
• Joined UNMC: May 2005
• Hometown: KO. Poovanur, Tamil Nadu, India

Research Focus:
Pancreatic cancer

The goal of my research is: to understand the biological functions of protein glycosylation in health and diseases. We are particularly interested in understanding the mechanism by which aberrant glycoforms of mucins and other glycoproteins enhance pancreatic cancer disease progression and metastasis.

My research will make a difference because: the full spectrum of tumor biology that results from altered protein glycosylation in cancer is not yet well established. Altered glycosylation is the most tumor-specific type of alteration observed in adenocarcinomas as compared to normal cells. A thorough understanding of the contribution of altered protein glycosylation in disease progression is, therefore, necessary to facilitate the development of new therapeutics for pancreatic cancer. The goal of my research is to identify tumor-specific carbohydrate-based new drug targets and treatments for patients with pancreatic cancer.

The best advice I’ve ever been given is:
Hard work never fails.

Three things you may not know about me:

• I like drawing pictures.
• I like to have loud music while reading.
• When I was in graduate school, I ate raw plant leaves to show they have medicinal properties and are non-toxic.