Distinguished Scientist: Punita Dhawan, Ph.D.

This profile is part of a series to highlight the researchers who will be honored at a ceremony for UNMC’s 2019 Scientist Laureate, Research Leadership, Distinguished Scientist and New Investigator Award recipients.

• Name: Punita Dhawan, Ph.D
• Title: Associate professor, UNMC Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine
• Joined UNMC: October 2014
• Hometown: New Delhi, India

Research focus:

• Gastrointestinal cancer

My primary areas of research are:

• To understand the role and regulation of novel target proteins in colon cancer progression and metastasis.
• Development of novel tools for detection and therapy of colon cancer.
• Molecular targets and regulation of pancreatic cancer.

My research will make a difference because: Gastrointestinal cancers are among the most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide. Our research will help determine the molecular mechanism/s involved in colon and pancreatic cancer progression and metastasis. Our studies are aimed at identifying novel targets that can be utilized for early stage biomarkers and therapies in patients with metastasis, and resistance to conventional cancer therapies.

The best advice I’ve ever been given is:

• Hard work is the key to open all locks.
• We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.

Three things you may not know about me are:

• I love to watch Bollywood and Hollywood movies.
• I am the mother of two teenage boys and the wife of a scientist.
• I love to listen to music while working.