Dr. Prajish Iyer Ph.D.

                  Staff Scientist | CLL society Young investigator| Leukemia-Lymphoma 

   Systems Biology Dept, City of Hope National Medical Center, California 

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Research interests.

Murine models

Leukemia 

Lymphoma. 

Solid tumors- Lung, biliary tract tumors 

Metabolism

Therapeutic targeting using metabolism

Tyrosine kinases

Single cell RNAseq 

Mitochondrial OXPHOS

Mentoring 

I am an enthusiastic and passionate researcher dedicated to advancing our understanding of aggressive lymphoid cancers, particularly focusing on the genetic, transcriptomic, and metabolic abnormalities that drive diseases like Richter's transformation (RT). My career has been marked by a deep commitment to scientific exploration, collaboration, and mentorship, which has enabled me to contribute meaningfully to the field of oncology.

I hold a Ph.D. in Life Sciences from the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research, and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) at Tata Memorial Cancer Centre, India, where I focused on the genomic characterization of gallbladder cancer. My work led to the identification of actionable mutations that could improve patient survival, highlighting the importance of genomic research in understanding cancer pathogenesis.

My postdoctoral research at the City of Hope National Medical Center, Monrovia, CA, was centered on understanding the mechanisms underlying the aggressive transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) to RT. I developed and utilized Crispr-Cas9 based in vivo murine models to study disease progression and validate in vivo findings with cell-based experiments. My research revealed critical insights into the genetic and metabolic alterations in RT, contributing to the development of potential therapeutic strategies.

In addition to my technical expertise, I am adept at project management and communication. I have successfully managed multiple projects, generated hypotheses, prepared manuscripts, and presented complex data to diverse audiences at international conferences. I have regularly presented my work as a oral and poster in ASH Annual meetings  My ability to communicate science effectively has been enhanced through my experience in mentoring and teaching junior researchers, guiding them in their summer projects, research work, and poster presentations.

I am a member of several professional organizations, including the American Society of Haematology (ASH),  American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB), where I actively participate in ongoing scientific discussions and collaborations. My work has been recognized with several awards, including best poster and oral presentation awards at national and international conferences.

As I continue my career, I seek a challenging and collaborative environment where I can leverage my expertise to contribute to the growth of the organization and address critical questions in healthcare development. My ultimate goal is to make significant strides in cancer research that can lead to improved patient outcomes and a deeper understanding of cancer biology.