Cancer Biology
1. Dr. Trivadi S. Ganesan
2. Dr. Moni Abraham Kuriakose
3. Dr. Sujit Nair
Cancer Biology Laboratory
Principal Investigator : Dr. Sujit Nair
Email: brdrsujit@aims.amrita.edu   or   sujit108@gmail.com
Dr. Sujit Nair obtained his Bachelor’s in Pharmacy from the Bharati Vidyapeeth’s College of Pharmacy, and his Masters in Pharmaceutics from the Principal K. M. Kundnani College of Pharmacy, both affiliated with the University of Mumbai (Bombay). He then received his doctoral training in Pharmaceutical Sciences in the United States at the Center for Cancer Chemoprevention Research and the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy affiliated with Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.  He was also actively involved in teaching students of the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program at Rutgers University before returning to India to join Amrita University, and has several international publications in peer-reviewed journals to his credit.

Currently, Dr. Nair is teaching at both the Amrita School of Biotechnology and Amrita School of Pharmacy, and offers didactic courses for the Bachelors/Masters/Ph.D. programs in Pharmacy/Biotechnology including Advanced Pharmacogenomics, Advanced Drug Metabolism, Drug Discovery, Clinical Research, and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology. Present research interests of Dr. Nair are geared towards understanding the mechanistic basis of cancer, and the discovery of novel biomarkers and drug molecules to aid in the prevention and treatment of cancer, as well as studies on drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics of anti-cancer agents.

Importantly, drug discovery is currently in an exciting phase where conventional methodologies are being ably complemented by ‘omics’ approaches due, in part, to the greater accessibility of the newest generation of high-throughput platforms and technologies. Our current efforts are directed towards making the identification of oncology clinical biomarkers more feasible through state-of-the-art pharmacogenomic and proteomic technologies as well as bioinformatic approaches. In addition, the early drug discovery screen of novel small molecules is facilitated through rational studies that help identify robust lead molecules in oncology. The laboratory also integrates drug metabolism and disposition studies with advanced pharmacometric approaches to better appreciate the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of candidate drug molecules in oncology.

Kind Attention:

Applications are invited from highly-motivated CSIR/UGC/GATE/DBT-qualified students (with a prior M. Pharm. or M. Sc. degree in any of the biological sciences) who might be interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences/Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at Dr. Nair’s laboratory located in the Amrita Institute of Molecular Medicine. The Ph.D. degree will be conferred by Amrita University. Potential applicants may kindly email Dr. Sujit Nair at brdrsujit@aims.amrita.edu or sujit108@gmail.com with a copy of your updated resume.
Important Publications


  1. Nair, S., Doh ST., Chan, JY., Kong AN., Cai, L. Regulatory potential for concerted modulation of Nrf2- and Nfkb1-mediated gene expression in inflammation and carcinogenesis. British Journal of Cancer, 2008 Dec; 99(12):2070-82.

  2. Nair, S., Hebbar V., Shen, G., Gopalakrishnan, A., Khor, TO., Yu, S., Xu, C., Kong, AN. Synergistic Effects of a Combination of Dietary Factors Sulforaphane and (-) Epigallocatechin-3-gallate in HT-29 AP-1 Human Colon Carcinoma Cells. Pharmaceutical Research, 2008 Feb; 25(2):387-99.

  3. Nair, S., Li, W., Kong, A.-N.T. Natural dietary anti-cancer chemopreventive compounds: Redox-mediated differential signaling mechanisms in cytoprotection of normal cells versus cytotoxicity in tumor cells. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica, 2007 Apr; 28(4):459-72 (Figure from this review article was featured on the Journal Cover Page).

  4. Nair, S., Xu, C., Shen, G., Hebbar, V., Gopalakrishnan, A., Hu, R., Jain, MR., Liew, C., Chan, JY., Kong A.-N. T. Toxicogenomics of endoplasmic reticulum stress inducer tunicamycin in the small intestine and liver of Nrf2 knockout and C57BL/6J Mice. Toxicology Letters, 2007 Jan 10; 168(1):21-39.

  5. Nair, S., Xu, C., Shen, G., Hebbar, V., Gopalakrishnan, A., Hu, R., Jain, MR., Lin, W., Keum YS., Liew, C., Chan, JY., Kong A.-N. T. Pharmacogenomics of phenolic antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) in the small intestine and liver of Nrf2 knockout and C57BL/6J Mice. Pharmaceutical Research, 2006 Nov. 23(11):2621-37.