Niharika Nath, Ph.D. | Life Sciences

Post Doctoral Research- Columbia University; City University of New York, 1997-2004 (research area Cancer Biology)
Ph.D. Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi, New Delhi, India, 1996.
M.S. in Biotechnology, Jadavpur University, Calcutta, India, 1989.
B. Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Delhi University, New Delhi, India, 1987.

Specializations

Carcinogenesis, Cancer chemoprevention and drug development
Plasmid biology, Biotechnology

Research and Professional Experience

M.S. Thesis Research (Immunobiology), Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, India, 1989
Senior Research Assistant (Restriction Enzyme purification), Indian Institute of Technology-Delh, India, 1990
Research Fellow (Plasmid Biology), Indian Institute of Technology-Delh, India, 1991-1996
Post Doctoral Research Scientist, Oncology, Columbia University, 1997- 2002
Associate Research Scientist, Physiology and Pharmacology, CUNY Medical School, CUNY, 2002-2004
Reviewer of PSC-CUNY research grant applications, 2004
Adjunct Professor and Thesis Advisor, MS Biotechnology Program, Manhattan College, NY, 2002 -2003
Adjunct Professor, Life Sciences, NYIT, 2004-2005
Medical Writer, CommonHealth, 2005 -2006
Assistant Professor, Life Sciences, NYIT, 2005-2010
Associate Professor, Life Sciences, NYIT, 2010-present
Director, Center of Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (COURCE), NYIT, 2008-2010
Collaborations- CUNY Physiol. & Pharmacol. Dept , 2006-present
Collaborations - Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi, India, Corynebacterial genome project 2004-2006
Collaborations- SABiosciences Corporation, Maryland, Gene silencing studies, 2008-2009
Collaborations- CUNY Biomed. Engg. Dept, 2012

Member of Core Curriculum Committee, and Course Creator Foundation of Science Core course, 2008-2009
Member, SOURCE committee, 2005- present
Member, Academic Senate NYIT, 2010-2012
Member, Department Personnel Committee, 2010- present

Reviewer for Journals European Journal of Pharmacology, British Journal of Cancer, Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology, World Journal of Surgical Oncology

Honors (and Accomplishments)

Jawaharlal Nehru Master's in Biotechnology Program Fellowship, Jadavpur University, India, 1987-1989
Junior and Senior Research Fellowship, Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi , 1991 - 1995
Recipient PSC-CUNY research grant award #66238-00-35, 2004
Standard of Excellence Award (NYIT/NYCOM) and Outstanding Service Award (NYIT School of Health Professions & Life Sciences) for promotion of undergraduate research, 2008
Institutional Teaching and Learning Grant Award, 2009
Guest Lecturer, Biomedical Sciences, Long Island University, CW Post, NY, 2009
Judges Travel Award, American Society for Microbiologists- Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, 2009
Invited Speaker, Department of Biology, Adelphi University, NY, 2010
College of Arts and Science Faculty Development Award, 2010
Mentoring Success- ABRCMS conference Undergraduate Travel Award to W. Abdel-Naby for presenting on molecular mechanisms of novel NSAIDs, 2010
Invited Speaker, International Conference on Emerging Areas of Chemistry, Tripura University, India, 2011
Mentoring Success- NYIT College of Arts & Sciences Dean's Travel Awards to T Thuy, K Munawar, A Haq for presenting on molecular mechanisms of hydrogen releasing compounds at BMES conference, 2011
Invited Speaker, Golden Key Society-NYIT chapter, 2011
Institutional Support for Research and Creativity Grant Awards, 2006, 2010, 2012

Teaching

Cell Biology - Lecture and Lab
Microbiology- Lecture and Lab
General Biology I - Lecture and Lab
General Biology II - Lecture and Lab
Biomedical Research I - Capstone undergraduate experience (Cancer Biology)
Biomedical Research II- Capstone undergraduate experience (Cancer Chemoprevention)
Foundations of Science- Pilot Course
Project SEED Summer Research (American Chem. Soc.)- novel compounds targeting beta-catenin
Thesis research (MS) - Molecular mechanisms of NSAID derivatives

Research Focus

My research investigates some of the signaling pathways involved in carcinogenesis and progression of cancers and modulation of these pathways by novel agents such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs modified to release gasotransmitters, such as nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide. Main focus of study are modulation of the Wnt/ beta-catenin signaling pathway which is a dysregulated early event in colorectal cancer, as well as the interplay of transcription factor NF-kappaB, the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2, nitric oxide synthase enzyme and apoptotic pathway proteins on cell growth, apoptosis and inflammation. The questions posed at the molecular level are possibility of signaling through protein modification such as nitrosylation. Other interests include investigating these and other novel agents for anti-cancer effects by 3-dimensional arrays that simulate the tumor environment.

Selected Publications

Nath N, Chattopadhyay M, Pospishil L, Cieciura LZ, Goswami S, Kodela R, Saavedra JE, Keefer LK, Kashfi K. JS-K, a nitric oxide-releasing prodrug, modulates beta-catenin/TCF signaling in leukemia Jurkat cells: evidence of an S-nitrosylated mechanism. Biochem Pharmacol. 2010;80:1641-9.

Nath N, Kashfi K, Chen J, Rigas B. NO-donating aspirin inhibits beta-catenin/TCF signaling in SW480 colon cancer cells by disrupting the nuclear beta-catenin-TCF association. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2003; 100:12584-9.

Nath N, Chattopadhyay M, Kodela R, Tian S, Vlismas P, Boring D, Crowell JA, Kashfi K. Modulation of stress genes expression profile by nitric oxide-releasing aspirin in Jurkat T leukemia cells. Biochem Pharmacol. 2010;79:1759-71.

Williams JL, Nath N, Chen J, Hundley TR, Gao JJ, Kashfi K, Rigas B. Growth inhibition of human colon cancer cells by NO-donating aspirin is associated with COX-2 induction and ?-catenin/TCF signaling, NF-kB and NOS2 inhibition: Implications for chemoprevention. Cancer Res, 2003; 63:7613-7618

Nath, N *, Vassel R, Chattopadhyay M, Kogan, M and Kashfi, K. Nitro-aspirin inhibits MCF-7 breast cancer cell growth: Effects on COX-2 expression and Wnt/beta-catenin/TCF-4 signaling. Biochem Pharmacol. 2009, 78:1298-1304

Srivastava, P., Nath, N, Deb, J.K. Characterization of broad host range cryptic plasmid pCR1 from Corynebacterium renale. Plasmid 2006, 56: 24-34

Memberships in Professional Societies

American Association for Cancer Research
New York Academy of Sciences
Honorary Member, Golden Key Society-NYIT chapter
Society of Biological Chemists, India

Community Leadership and Service

Organizer of 'Science Workshop Day' at Transfiguration Academy School, New Jersey, 2012 Abstract Reviewer for Amer. Soc. for Microbiol-ABRCMS undergraduate conference, 2011, 2012
Faculty Advisor of American Medical Students Association Chapter at NYIT
Judge at the -ABRCMS conference, 2009, 2010
Faculty Mentor, American Chemical Society Project SEED
Faculty Founder, 'Manhattan Life Science-NYIT Alumni Mentor Group'