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Principle Investigator
Publications
Cell and Molecular Biology

Dr. M. Balasubramanyam

  
 
Qualifications : MSc., M.Phil., PhD  
 

Specialization: Cell Signaling in health and disease & Molecular Medicine with special reference to molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis of diabetes and its complications; Insulin signaling & Proteomics of diabetes, Unraveling mechanisms of hyperglycemic memory, Redox signaling, Oxidative stress and biomarkers identification; Bioprospecting herbal molecules.
 

Positions held in chronological order: 
1999 to till date: Senior Scientist, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai
1996-1999: Faculty, Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University, Chennai 
1993-1996: Post Doctoral Fellow, American Heart Association Affiliate, New Jersey Medical School, New Jersey, USA
1991-1993: Post Doctoral Fellow, Government of India-Scholarship Award, New Jersey Medical School, New Jersey, USA 
1988-1991: Research Associate (CSIR), S.V.University, Tirupati
1986-1988: Senior Research Fellow (CSIR), S.V.University, Tirupati 
1984-1986: Junior Research Fellow, S.V.University, Tirupati. 

 

Additional Responsibilities:
1999-till date: Member Secretary, Institutional Ethics Committee, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation
1999-till date: Academic Coordinator, MDRF (Training programmes for BSc/BTech; MSc/MTech students; short-term exposure training and end-semester project training)
 

Research Experience:
Possessing two decades of post-MSc research experience since from 1983. This includes an extensive Post Doctoral Fellow (PDF) training program (1991-95) at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), New Jersey Medical School, New Jersey, USA, on the subject: “Biochemical machinery and Signal transduction in physiology and pathophysiology”.
Training at the University of San Diego, USA on human skeletal muscle/adipose biopsy and insulin signaling profiling.
 

Teaching experience:
15 years of total teaching experience which include teaching assignments at
 a) Department of Zoology, S.V.University, Tirupati (1983-1991),
 b) Centre of Biotechnology, Anna University, Chennai (1995-1999)
 c) MDRF (1999 -till-to-date).

 

Research Grants:
1993-1995   American Heart Association Fellowship grant (PI)
1996-1997 Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), Italy - Research Grant (PI)
2002-2005   Department of Science & Technology (DST), New Delhi (PI)  
2002-2007 FIST-DST Grant (Programme Coordinator) 
2003-2006 Department of Biotechnology (DBT) (Co-Investigator) 
2006-2010 Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) (Co-Investigator)
2003-2006 Department of Science & Technology (DST), New Delhi (Co-PI).
2007—2010 Department of Biotechnbology (DBT), New Delhi (PI).
 

Presently guiding six students for their PhD in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department of MDRF (affiliated to the University of Madras) in the following topics:

i) Altered signaling in diabetes and its complications with special reference to ion transport, redox imbalance and advanced glycation aspects (Thesis submitted).                                          
ii)  Biochemical markers and molecular mechanisms of Oxidative Stress in Diabetes and its Complications (Thesis submitted).
iii) Insulin Resistance and Type 2 diabetes: the Hexosamine Connection and the role of post-translational modifications
iv) Does fat decide the fate of diabetes?: molecular mechanisms using adipocytes and adipokines
v) Beta-cell defects in relation to glucose, lipid and cytokine toxicities and testing of herbal actions on molecular targets.
vi) Epigenetics and Type 2 diabetes

Professional Recognition(s):

  1. Served as Guest-Editor for a special issue on Diabetes Mellitus in “Current Science” (2002,  Vol: 83(12).
  2. Co-organizer of the meetings organized by MDRF including
  3. Brain Storming session on “Cell transplantation” sponsored by Department of Science &  Technology (DST), Govt of India, 2002 at MDRF, Chennai
Scientific Organising Secretary: for
  • MDRF-ADA Post-graduate Course in Diabetology 2002
  • MDRF –ADA Post-graduate Course in Diabetology 2004
  • MDRF –ADA Post-graduate Course in Diabetology 2006
  • Organising Secretary – Indo-Swedish Symposium on Genomics and Proteomics of Diabetes (April 1-2, 2006)
  • Served as Guest-Editor for a special issue on Diabetes Researcj in “Indian Journal of Medical Research” (Vol 125) 2007.

Referee for various journals including:

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology
Current Science
Indian Journal of Medical Research
 European Journal of Biology
Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics
BMC Endorcine disorders

Scientific Services:

Member - Task Force committee on Cardio-vascular diseases (CVD) in Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt of India
Member – Expert Committee on Clinical Proteomics, Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India
Member – Life Sciences Research Board (LSRB) under DRDO, New Delhi.
Member – Board of Studies, Biotechnology, Loyola College, Chennai
Editorial Board Member: Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics
 

Memberships & Research Awards:

  • Elected Member - Asia Pacific International Molecular Biology Network (A-IMBN), 2001 
  • International Diabetes Society grant to attend 5th IDS Congress, Chennai, 1999
  • MABMS award - Membership of the Indian Association of Biomedical Scientists 1999
  • Fellow - Indian Association of Biomedical Scientists, 1998
  • ICSU/INSA award to attend XIII International Biophysics Congress, New Delhi -2000
  • Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS, Italy) Associateship award, 1998.
  • Young Physiologist Foreign Guest at the Physiological Society meetings, Dublin (Ireland) March 23-26, 1997
  • The Welcome Trust (UK) award for subsistence at the EC School/Conference on Calcium and Signal Transduction (Liverpool, UK, 14-20, March 1997)
  • Research Grant award from Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), Italy (Principal Investigator), 1996
  • International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology  (IUBMB, Germany), Young Scientist Travel Fellowship Award for  participation in IUBMB Congress 1994, New Delhi, India
  • Junior Scientist Award from the Association of Scientists of India Origin in America Inc., (ASIOA), Mississippi, USA, 1993
  • American Heart Association (AHA, USA), New Jersey affiliate, Post-doctoral Fellowship Grant (Principal Investigator) (Diabetes Work), 1993-1995
  • Government of India sponsored Study abroad PDF scholarship award for Specialized Post doctoral training - New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA, 1991-1992 
  • Young Scientist Travel award for participation in the Fifth International Theriological Congress, Rome, Italy - Financed by DST, New Delhi, INDIA & V-ITC, Rome, ITALY, 1989
 

Membership of Academies/Research Societies:
Asia-Pacific International Molecular Biology Network (A-IMBN)
Member Indian Biophysics Society (IBS)
Life member Indian Association of Biomedical Scientists (IABMS)
Life member Indian Society of Cell Biology (ISCB)
Life member-European Calcium Society (ECS, Germany)
Member Alliance for Cell Signaling (AFCS, USA)
Member Society of Biological Chemists (India) (SBC)
Member Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA)
Member Inter Academy of Biomedical Forum – (IABF)

 

Talks delivered
  1. “Herbal medicine, diabetes and oxidative stress as a therapeutic target” at the “International Conference on Drug Development from Medicinal Plants- Issues and Problems” held at CLRI, Chennai on 21st October 2005.

  2. “Clinical Proteomics and diabetes: Expectations and Emerging Opportunities” at the Expert Committee Meating (DBT) held in Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh on 7th November 2005.

  3. “Diabetes & New Horizons in Drug Development” at the National Conference on “Path to Health – Biotechnology Revolution in India” held at the Anna University, Chennai on 25th November 2005.

  4. “Oxidative stress and diabetes – New insights for therapeutic intervention” at the 38th Annual Conference of the Indian Pharmacological Socieity (IPS) in Chennai on 29th December 2005.

  5. “Antioxidatns & Metabolic/Vascular diseases – Where do we stand now” at the Joint Annual Meeting of the International Society of Heart Research & International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences, held at the Madras Medical Mission, Chennai during 12-14th January, 2006

  6. “Insulin signaling, diabetes pathogenesis and proteomics aspects” at the National Symposium & Workshop on Genomics, proteomics and computational biology – Today and Tomorrow, in Chennai during 15-17 February, 2006.

  7. “Differential regulation of Ca2+ & Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers during induction of insulin resistance by glucosamine in L6 muscle cells”, at the10th ADNAT convention on: “RNAi & microRNA in development and health”, Center for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, during 23-24th February, 2006.
  8. “New insights into the pathogenesis of diabetes and the role of phytochemicals” at the Workshop cum Symposium on “Recent trends in Biochemistry & Biotechnology” at the Annamalai University, Chidambaram, on 26th February, 2006.

  9. “Time for a translational approach in diabetes research” at the Seminar on ‘Emerging trends in biomedical sciences and their translational applications’ at the Loyola College, Chennai, on 1st March 2006.
  10. “Changing trends in studying the molecular pathogenesis of diabetes” at the National Seminar on Molecular basis of diseases – current perspectives and new frontiers, held at the University of Madras, Chennai during 13-14 March 2006

  11. “Proteomics and post-translational modifications-Type 2 diabetes context” at the Indo-Swedish Symposium on Genomics and Proteomics of Diabetes held in Chennai during April 1-2, 2006

  12. “War against diabetes mellitus: Phytochemicals revisited?” at the AVT Institute of Advanced Research (AVTAR), Coimbatore on 7th July 2006

  13. “Changing trends and translational approaches in studying the molecular pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes” at the 9th A-IMBN Conference & 16th MSMBB Scientific Meeting, Theme: From Genomics and Proteomics to Translational Initiatives, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia during 3rd to 5th September 2006.

  14. “Screening techniques on herbals for insulin secretagogue and insulin sensitizing actions” at the IABMS Workshop on “Basic tools and techniques in herbal drug research”, Trivandrum 25-27th November, 2006

  15. “Herbal medicine and diabetes mellitus: Where do we stand now?” at the Natioanal symposium on Current trends in the development of herbal drugs & 27th Annual Conference of Indian Association of Biomedical Scientists, Trivandrum 25-27th November, 2006.

  16. “Telomere shortening at the cross-road of oxidative stress and atherosclerosis” at the 19th Annual Conference of the Indian Society for Atherosclerosis Research (ISARCON-2006), University of Madras, Chennai, December 16-17th , 2006

  17. “Phytochemicals and fight against diabetes mellitus” at the XXIII Annual conference of the Indian Association of Veterinary Pathologists, TamilNadu, Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, 27th December 2006.

  18. Diabetes – What medicinal plants can offer? at the National Conference on “Recent Trends in Medicinal Plants Research”, University of Madras, Chennai, 24-25 January, 2007.

  19. “Molecular pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes-Cell and Organellar Insights” at the 30th All India Cell Biology Conference (AICBC), Theme: Molecules to Compartments; Corss-talks and Networks. Delhi University, Delhi, 2-4 February, 2007.

  20. “Stem cells, diabetes and bioengineering enterprise”, Guest lecture on Tissue Engineering at the Department of Biotechnology, University of Madras, Chennai, 6th March, 2007.

  21. “Type 2 diabetes – Emerging drug targets and exciting challenges” Talk given at BIOCON, Bangalore on 28th March 2007.

  22. “Molecular pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes –Tissues, Issues and Microarray applications” at the “Workshop on advanced microarray techniques”, Genotypic Technology, Bangalore, 3 - 4th May 2007.
  23. “Pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes – Technology struggles and the Gordian Knot” at the Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore on 3rd July 2007.

  24. Methods in Calcium homeostasis and Redox signaling at the School of Life Sciences, MDIS, Singapore on 29th June 2007

  25. “Molecular pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes-Cell and Organellar Insights” at the School of Life Sciences, MDIS, Singapore on 3rd July 2007

  26. “Oxidative stress, Metabolic memory and Diabetic retinopathy” at the 16th Annual Meeting of Indian Eye Research Group (IERG), L.V.Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad during 28 –29th July 2007

  27. “Insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes: New insights in to the molecular mechanisms” Guest Lecture at the Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Central University, Hyderabad on 30th July 2007.
  28. “Research needs – Chronic Disease Biology & Diabetes”. DBT meeting on Chronic Disease Biology, Trivandrum 7-9th August 2007

  29. “Multiple diabetes drug targets – A blessing in disguise for Pharma” invited talk given at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPER), Chandigarh, 11th August 2007.
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Oral/poster presentations at International/National Conference:
1.
Sampathkumar R, Balasubramanyam M, Rema M & Mohan V. Association of hypoglutathionemia with reduced Na+/K+ ATPase Activity in type 2 diabetes and microangiopathy. Annual meeting of Indian Eye Research Group, Hyderabad, India, 2005.
2.
Rema M, Premanand C, Sameer Mahmood Z, Anitha D & Balasubramanyam M. Inhibitory effect of curcumin on human retinal endothelial cell proliferation. 2004 Annual meeting of Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), Florida, USA, 2004.
3.
Sampathkumar R, Balasubramanyam M et al. Identification of elevated glutathionyl hemoglobin (HbSSG) in patients with Type 2 diabetes: an indicator of altered redox signaling? 64th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, Orlando, USA, 2004.
4.
AdaikalaKoteswari A, Balasubramanyam M et al. Short telomeres in patients with Type 2 diabetes: an indictor of increased oxidative stress? 64th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, Orlando, USA, 2004.
5.
AdaikalaKoteswari A, Balasubramanyam M, Sampathkumar R, Premanand C & Mohan V. Increased Lipid Peroxidation in the Natural History of Diabetes:  A Population Based Assessment. 18th International Diabetes Federation Congress, Paris, 2003.
6.
Sampathkumar R, Balasubramanyam M, AdaikalaKoteswari A, Premanand C, & Mohan V. A Simple method of clinical utility to assess advanced glycation in diabetes and its complications. 63rd Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, New Orleans, USA, 2003.
7.
Balasubramanyam M, Premanand C, Sampathkumar R, AdaikalaKoteswari A & Mohan V. Glitazone modulation of cellular ion fluxes: novel mechanisms far their anti-inflammatory and vascular effects. 63rd Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, New Orleans, USA, 2003.
8.
Balasubramanyam M, Premanand C, Sampathkumar R, & Mohan V. Rosiglitazone and troglitazone protect against oxidative stress: possible role of store operated Ca2+ fluxes. 62nd Scientific sessions, P-1845, Sanfrancisco, USA, 2002.
9.
Balasubramanyam M & Mohan V. Signal transduction network and drug targets.  International Society for Hearth Research (ISHR), SCTIMST, Trivandrum, 2002.
10.
Balasubramanyam M, Premanand C & Mohan V. Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) load in cells from Type 2 diabetes patients: role of cell calcium.  XXV All India Cell Biology Conference, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 2001.
11.
Balasubramanyam M, Premanand C & Mohan V. Rosiglitazone inhibits reactive oxygen species (ROS) load: Ca2+-dependent and PKC-independent mechanisms. XXV All India Cell Biology Conference, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 2001.
12.
Balasubramanyam M, Sitalaximi T, Premance C, Gautam P & Mohan V. XXV All India Cell Biology Conference, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 2001.
13.
Balasubramanyam M & Mohan V. The need for a Technology Mission to test, develop and validate herbal drugs for diabetes mellitus. IABMS meeting on World Health Day, IBMS, Taramani, Chennai, 2001.
 
14.
Balasubramanyam M, Premanand C & Mohan V. Lymphocytes as a cellular model to study insights into the pathophysiology of diabetes and its complications.  5thInternational Congress of the Immunology of Diabetes Soceity, Chennai, India, 2001.
15.
Balasubramanyam M, Premanand C & Mohan V. Altered Ca2+ transport and signal transduction in diabetes mellitus, 3rd Asia-Pacific IMBN Conference & International Congress on Cell and Differentiation Biology, Australia., 2000.
16.
Balasubramanyam M, Anjali V & Mohan V. Altered store-operated Ca2+ entry in cells from NIDDM: possible reversal by Withania sominifera.  XIII International Biophysics Congress, New Delhi, 1999.
17.
Balasubramanyam M, Balaji A and Mohan V. Evidence for mechanistic alteration of Ca2+ homeostasis in NIDDM.  Symposium on: Membranes, Sensors and Cell surfaces, CCMB, Hyderabad, 1999.
18.
Balasubramanyam M & Mohan V. The need for high throughput screening of medicinal plants with special reference to diabetes mellitus.  Brain storming colloquium on: Biodiversity monitoring, conservation and management- a need for a national agenda to meet the challenges of the next millenium.  Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati. (Invited talk), 1999.
19.
Balasubramanyam M. State-of-the art of studying cell calcium.  XXII All India Cell Biology Conference, Rajiv Gandhi Center for Biotechnology, Trivandrum. (Invited talk). 1999.
20.
Balasubramanyam, M. Calcium regulation and signaling in lymphocytes. Symposium on: Signal transduction in Biology, January 4-5, 1999, Cancer Research Center, Mumbai, 1999.
21.
Balasubramanyam, M, Sridevi, B and Kunthala Jayaraman. Ca2+ permeability in the mode of action of entomocidal d-endotoxins of Bacillus thuringiensis.  67th Annual Meeting of Society of Biological Chemists, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 1998.
22.
Balasubramanyam M. Calcium messengers system regulation and signaling in lymphocytes. 24th Annual Conference of Indian Immunology Society , Science City, Calcutta (Invited talk) , 1997.
23.
Balasubramanyam M, Subashini B, Santhosh M and Mohan V.  Modified calcium signals in lymphcytes from non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.  66th Annual meeting of the Society of Biological Chemists, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam. 1997.
24.
Balasubramanyam M and Gardner JP. Lymphocyte calcium homeostasis: a cellular model for studying physiology and pathophysiology.  Physiological Society Meeting, Dublin, Ireland, 1997.
25.
Balasubramanyam M, Condrescu M, Reeves JP & Gardner JP. Evidence for Na/Ca exchange in certain non-excitable cell lines. Pflugers Archiv Conference on “Calcium and Signal Transduction”,  Liverpool, UK, 1997.
26.
Balasubramanyam, M. Thapsigargin, a novel molecular probe for studying intracellular ionic movements. 65th Annual Meeting of the Society of Biological Chemists, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 1996.
27.
Balasubramanyam M & Kunthala J. Ion channel basis for the mode of action of entomocidal endotoxins of Bacillus thuringiensis - an overview. 65th Annual Meeting of the Society of Biological Chemists, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 1996.
 
28.
Balasubramanyam M. Calcium regulation and signaling in lymphocytes.  TIFR Golden Jubilee symposium on the “Present and Future of major aspects of Modern Biology. NCBS, Bangalore, India, 1996.
29.
Gardner JP, Balasubramanyam M & Studzinski GP. 1, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1, 25-(OH) 2D3) reduces intracellular calcium stores and enhances store-dependent calcium influx (SDCI) in HL-60 cells. Biophysical Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, 1996.
30.
Gardner JP & Balasubramanyam M. Increased cytosolic free calcium (Cai), Ca mobilization and Ca turnover rate in Jurkat T lymphocytes.  Experimental Biology’94, Anaheim, California, USA, 1994.
31.
Balasubramanyam M & Gardner JP.  Na/Ca exchange-mediated calcium entry in human lymphocytes.  IUBMB Congress, New Delhi (attended through young scientist award by International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB, Germany) 1994.
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