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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:
    October 18, 2023 at 6:24 am

    Congratulations Imay!

    1. Imayavaramban says:
      October 18, 2023 at 2:27 pm

      Thanks Palsamy

      1. Dr R Padmini says:
        December 24, 2023 at 3:43 am

        Congratulations imay

  2. Meenakshi Sundar says:
    October 18, 2023 at 6:40 am

    Congratulations Imay. Awesome. Well deserved award!

    1. Imayavaramban says:
      October 18, 2023 at 2:27 pm

      Thanks Sundar

  3. Wasim Nasser says:
    October 18, 2023 at 7:33 am

    Congratulations, Imay! Well-deserved!

    1. Imayavaramban says:
      October 18, 2023 at 2:27 pm

      Thanks Wasim

  4. Saraswathi Viswanathan says:
    October 18, 2023 at 7:37 am

    Congratulations, Imay!

    1. Imayavaramban says:
      October 18, 2023 at 2:28 pm

      Thanks Madam

  5. Parvez khan says:
    October 18, 2023 at 8:12 am

    Many congratulations Dr. Imay!

    1. Imayavaramban says:
      October 18, 2023 at 2:28 pm

      Thanks Parvez

  6. Anitha says:
    October 18, 2023 at 8:29 am

    Congrats Imay Anna

    1. Imayavaramban says:
      October 18, 2023 at 2:28 pm

      Thanks Anitha

  7. Karthik says:
    October 18, 2023 at 8:30 am

    Congratulations Imay, Good luck for your future research!!

    1. Imayavaramban says:
      October 18, 2023 at 2:29 pm

      Thanks Karthik

  8. Ranjana Kanchan says:
    October 18, 2023 at 8:35 am

    Congratulations! Imay

    1. Imayavaramban says:
      October 18, 2023 at 2:29 pm

      Thanks Ranjana

  9. Rizwan Ahmad says:
    October 18, 2023 at 8:43 am

    Congratulations!

    1. Imayavaramban says:
      October 18, 2023 at 2:29 pm

      Thanks Rizwan

  10. Dr.M.Bharathi Murugaiyan says:
    October 18, 2023 at 8:54 am

    Congrated dear maapla…..God bless You…

    1. Imayavaramban says:
      October 18, 2023 at 2:30 pm

      Thanks Mapla

  11. Jawed Siddiqui says:
    October 18, 2023 at 9:02 am

    Congratulations! Imay.

    1. Imayavaramban says:
      October 18, 2023 at 2:30 pm

      Thanks Jawed

  12. Parthasarathy Seshacharyulu says:
    October 18, 2023 at 9:09 am

    Congrats Imay!

    1. Imayavaramban says:
      October 18, 2023 at 2:30 pm

      Thanks Sarathy

  13. Bhopal Mohapatra says:
    October 18, 2023 at 9:19 am

    Congratulations Imay!

    1. Imayavaramban says:
      October 18, 2023 at 2:31 pm

      Thanks Bhopal

  14. Swathi Priyanka Murakonda says:
    October 18, 2023 at 10:52 am

    Way more to go Dr. IMAY
    Congratulations!

    1. Imayavaramban says:
      October 18, 2023 at 2:31 pm

      Thanks Swathi

  15. karuna Rasineni says:
    October 18, 2023 at 10:54 am

    Congratulations Lakshmanan!

  16. Imran Khan says:
    October 18, 2023 at 1:59 pm

    Congratulations Dr. Imay.

    1. Imayavaramban says:
      October 18, 2023 at 8:42 pm

      Thanks Imran

  17. Imayavaramban says:
    October 18, 2023 at 2:32 pm

    Thanks Karuna

  18. Gopalakrishnan Natarajan says:
    October 18, 2023 at 2:45 pm

    Hearty Congratulations Dr. Imay.

    1. Imayavaramban says:
      October 18, 2023 at 8:43 pm

      Thanks Gopal

  19. Ming-Fong Lin says:
    October 18, 2023 at 4:13 pm

    Congratulations! Well deserved.

    1. Imayavaramban says:
      October 18, 2023 at 8:43 pm

      Thanks Dr. Lin

  20. Jimmy Talaska says:
    October 18, 2023 at 4:29 pm

    Awesome Imay, big congrats! You deserve it!

    1. Imayavaramban says:
      October 18, 2023 at 8:44 pm

      Thanks Jimmy

  21. Ashu Shah says:
    October 18, 2023 at 4:55 pm

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

    1. Imayavaramban says:
      October 18, 2023 at 8:45 pm

      Thanks Ashu

  22. Puttappa D says:
    October 18, 2023 at 6:42 pm

    Congratulations Imay👏👏
    Best wishes

    1. Imayavaramban says:
      October 18, 2023 at 8:45 pm

      Thanks Puttapa

  23. Suprit Gupta says:
    October 18, 2023 at 7:02 pm

    Many Congratulations Imay. Well deserved

  24. Sathish Natarajan says:
    October 19, 2023 at 8:51 am

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

  25. Subhash Chand says:
    October 19, 2023 at 9:50 am

    Congratulations, Imay. Wish you more luck!

  26. Chevalier Dr Veeramani Thangarasu says:
    October 19, 2023 at 10:20 am

    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:
      October 19, 2023 at 12:59 pm

      Thanks Chithappa for your great wishes

  27. Dr.Thanga.Veera.BHADHRINATH says:
    October 19, 2023 at 11:27 am

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

    1. Imayavaramban Lakshmanan says:
      October 21, 2023 at 9:20 am

      Thanks Badhri

  28. Dr Thanga Veera Bhadhrinath says:
    October 19, 2023 at 11:30 am

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

  29. Shikha Tarang says:
    October 19, 2023 at 12:12 pm

    Great News! Many Congratulations Imay!

  30. Arunjith Gopinathan says:
    October 20, 2023 at 7:57 am

    Congratulations Imay 👏

  31. Elan says:
    October 23, 2023 at 10:46 am

    Congratulations Imay 💐

  32. Vijay William says:
    October 31, 2023 at 8:49 pm

    Congratulations Imay

  33. Sathishkumar says:
    November 8, 2023 at 3:27 am

    Congratulations Mr. Imay

  34. SELVAMANIMURUGANANTHAM says:
    November 15, 2023 at 12:26 am

    Congratulations Kathir

  35. Dr. Riyaz Ahmad Mir says:
    November 15, 2023 at 4:34 am

    Many many congratulations Imay, keep doing great work

  36. Dr Sabarinathan Venkatachalam says:
    November 15, 2023 at 12:23 pm

    Congratulations for your achievement- ‘New Investigator’

Comments are closed.

Ceremony is Nov. 9

UNMC will recognize its Distinguished Scientist, New Investigator, Research Leadership and Community Service to Research Award winners for 2023, during an awards ceremony on Nov. 9 at 4 p.m. at the Durham Research Center auditorium.

Michele Balas, PhD, the associate dean of research at the UNMC College of Nursing and Dorothy Hodges Olson Distinguished Professor of Nursing at the college, will be honored as UNMC’s 18th Scientist Laureate.

The ceremony's reception will include a poster session of the awardees' work.

See more on this year's award recipients on the Distinguished Scientists webpage.

New Investigators

Distinguished Scientists

  • Karsten Bartels, MD, PhD, UNMC College of Medicine
  • Raymond Bergan, MD, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases
  • Jennifer Blackford, PhD, UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute
  • Hongying (Daisy) Dai, PhD, UNMC College of Public Health
  • Yvonne Golightly, PhD, UNMC College of Allied Health Professions
  • Joseph Khoury, MD, UNMC College of Medicine
  • Daren Knoell, PharmD, UNMC College of Pharmacy
  • St. Patrick Reid, PhD, UNMC College of Medicine

Research Leadership

  • Carol Casey, PhD, UNMC College of Medicine
  • John Davis, PhD, UNMC College of Medicine

Community Service to Research

  • Carolyn T. Williamson
  • Amanda McGill Johnson

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