New investigator: Imayavaramban Lakshmanan, PhD

Imayavaramban Lakshmanan, PhD

This profile is part of a series to highlight the researchers who will be honored at a ceremony on Nov. 9 for UNMC’s Scientist Laureate, Research Leadership, Distinguished Scientist, New Investigator and Community Service to Research Award recipients.

New Investigator

The New Investigator Award is given to outstanding UNMC scientists who in the past two years have secured their first funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense or other national sources. New investigators also had to demonstrate scholarly activity, such as publishing their research and/or presenting their findings at national conventions.

  • Name: Imayavaramban Lakshmanan, PhD
  • Title: Assistant professor, UNMC Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Joined UNMC: December 2008
  • Hometown: Thirunallar, Pondicherry, India

Please describe your research focus in three words or less: Cancer, tumor angiogenesis and metastasis

Why is research important in the world today? Numerous cancer patients die due to a lack of early diagnosis, molecular understanding of the disease and effective therapeutics. Extensive research is needed to provide clinical benefits to patients who do not have treatment options.

My research will make a difference because: 

Understanding the biology of lung adenocarcinoma is critical to unveiling a molecular profile that can be utilized to develop novel therapeutic strategies for patients. We identified mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) as a vital molecule in lung adenocarcinoma development and metastasis. Using genetically engineered lung cancer models, we observed that mutant TP53 mutation mediates sialyltransferase ST6GalNAc-I expression in lung adenocarcinoma. ST6GalNAc-I induces MUC5AC sialylation necessary for MUC5AC and integrin β4 interaction during tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. Additionally, my research focuses on the transmembrane mucin 16 (MUC16) role in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell proliferation and metastasis. Our findings indicate that MUC16 is significantly overexpressed in African-American TNBC patients and induces therapy resistance. I believe my research will help to design a new strategy to target mucin MUC5AC and MUC16 to improve the survival outcome of cancer patients.

I want to thank my mentors, Surinder Batra, PhD, Apar Ganti, MD, and my PhD mentor, Halagowder Devaraj, PhD, for their tremendous support in my scientific career.

The best advice I’ve ever received is: There is nothing more significant than truthfulness-Thirukkural-Tamil

Three things you may not know about me are:

  • I am a good cricket player, preferably batting.
  • I’m trying to be a good photographer.
  • Biking is one of my absolute favorite things to do.

59 comments

  1. Palsamy Periyasamy says:

    Congratulations Imay!

    1. Imayavaramban says:

      Thanks Palsamy

      1. Dr R Padmini says:

        Congratulations imay

  2. Meenakshi Sundar says:

    Congratulations Imay. Awesome. Well deserved award!

    1. Imayavaramban says:

      Thanks Sundar

  3. Wasim Nasser says:

    Congratulations, Imay! Well-deserved!

    1. Imayavaramban says:

      Thanks Wasim

  4. Saraswathi Viswanathan says:

    Congratulations, Imay!

    1. Imayavaramban says:

      Thanks Madam

  5. Parvez khan says:

    Many congratulations Dr. Imay!

    1. Imayavaramban says:

      Thanks Parvez

  6. Anitha says:

    Congrats Imay Anna

    1. Imayavaramban says:

      Thanks Anitha

  7. Karthik says:

    Congratulations Imay, Good luck for your future research!!

    1. Imayavaramban says:

      Thanks Karthik

  8. Ranjana Kanchan says:

    Congratulations! Imay

    1. Imayavaramban says:

      Thanks Ranjana

  9. Rizwan Ahmad says:

    Congratulations!

    1. Imayavaramban says:

      Thanks Rizwan

  10. Dr.M.Bharathi Murugaiyan says:

    Congrated dear maapla…..God bless You…

    1. Imayavaramban says:

      Thanks Mapla

  11. Jawed Siddiqui says:

    Congratulations! Imay.

    1. Imayavaramban says:

      Thanks Jawed

  12. Parthasarathy Seshacharyulu says:

    Congrats Imay!

    1. Imayavaramban says:

      Thanks Sarathy

  13. Bhopal Mohapatra says:

    Congratulations Imay!

    1. Imayavaramban says:

      Thanks Bhopal

  14. Swathi Priyanka Murakonda says:

    Way more to go Dr. IMAY
    Congratulations!

    1. Imayavaramban says:

      Thanks Swathi

  15. karuna Rasineni says:

    Congratulations Lakshmanan!

  16. Imran Khan says:

    Congratulations Dr. Imay.

    1. Imayavaramban says:

      Thanks Imran

  17. Imayavaramban says:

    Thanks Karuna

  18. Gopalakrishnan Natarajan says:

    Hearty Congratulations Dr. Imay.

    1. Imayavaramban says:

      Thanks Gopal

  19. Ming-Fong Lin says:

    Congratulations! Well deserved.

    1. Imayavaramban says:

      Thanks Dr. Lin

  20. Jimmy Talaska says:

    Awesome Imay, big congrats! You deserve it!

    1. Imayavaramban says:

      Thanks Jimmy

  21. Ashu Shah says:

    Congratulations, Imay, for the well-deserved award! Many more to come…

    1. Imayavaramban says:

      Thanks Ashu

  22. Puttappa D says:

    Congratulations Imay👏👏
    Best wishes

    1. Imayavaramban says:

      Thanks Puttapa

  23. Suprit Gupta says:

    Many Congratulations Imay. Well deserved

  24. Sathish Natarajan says:

    Congratulations!! You are very deserving of this prestigious recognition!

  25. Subhash Chand says:

    Congratulations, Imay. Wish you more luck!

  26. Chevalier Dr Veeramani Thangarasu says:

    Congratulations to you my dear son.I really proud of you. Our godess Sri Angalaparameswary bless you and every success in your research and life.My prayers also.

    1. Imayavaramban says:

      Thanks Chithappa for your great wishes

  27. Dr.Thanga.Veera.BHADHRINATH says:

    Proud Moment as a Brother. Warm Wishes from THULIR UthaviKARAM FOUNDATION ( NGO), Puducherry. Nature Bless You Anna.

    1. Imayavaramban Lakshmanan says:

      Thanks Badhri

  28. Dr Thanga Veera Bhadhrinath says:

    Proud Moment as a Brother. Warm Wishes from THULIR UthaviKARAM FOUNDATION ( NGO), Puducherry. Nature Bless You Anna.

  29. Shikha Tarang says:

    Great News! Many Congratulations Imay!

  30. Arunjith Gopinathan says:

    Congratulations Imay 👏

  31. Elan says:

    Congratulations Imay 💐

  32. Vijay William says:

    Congratulations Imay

  33. Sathishkumar says:

    Congratulations Mr. Imay

  34. SELVAMANIMURUGANANTHAM says:

    Congratulations Kathir

  35. Dr. Riyaz Ahmad Mir says:

    Many many congratulations Imay, keep doing great work

  36. Dr Sabarinathan Venkatachalam says:

    Congratulations for your achievement- ‘New Investigator’

Comments are closed.