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Hire Dr. Pavan Kumar P.

United States

USD 50 /hr

Principal Scientist with 15+ years of expertise in cancer biology, immunology, and therapeutic molecule development.

Profile Summary

Profile Summary I am a Principal Scientist with over 15 years of experience in life science research, specializing in cancer biology, immunology, and developmental biology. My expertise centers on advancing therapeutic molecule development, with a focus on small molecule inhibitors (e.g., SN38, DM4) and novel cell-penetrating peptides targeting pancreatic cancer, multiple myeloma, breast cancer, and colon cancer. I have led innovative research into retrotransposon-based gene delivery systems and click chemistry to create hybrid anti-cancer molecules, enhancing therapeutic specificity and efficacy. Currently, at Kodikaz Therapeutic Solutions (2021–present), I spearhead projects investigating molecular and cellular mechanisms of retrotransposon-based gene delivery in multiple myeloma, pancreatic, and colon cancer models. My work includes pharmacokinetic (PK), efficacy, and biodistribution studies of ZDC-conjugated inhibitors in CDX and PDTX mouse models, as well as developing novel cellular assays and SOPs for evaluating anti-cancer molecule stability and function. I have contributed to pre-IND and IND package preparations, participated in FDA meetings, and secured SBIR grants to advance DNA-based gene therapies. Additionally, I coordinate with CROs for high-throughput "omic" studies and have submitted a patent for proprietary ZIP-code gene therapy technologies. Previously, as a Staff Scientist at Geisinger Medical Center (2017–2021), I led independent investigations into SAFA-derived and RBM39-RRM3-based cell-penetrating peptides, evaluating their therapeutic potential in vitro and in vivo using cell lines, organoids, and mammary tumor models. I developed CRISPR-Cas9 knockout and knock-in systems, generated high-throughput genomic datasets (ChIP-seq, RNA-seq, CLIP-seq, RIP-seq), and established bioinformatics pipelines for large-scale data analysis. My efforts culminated in a U.S. Provisional Patent (No. xxxxxxxxxx) for a novel CAPERα-MLL1 complex for breast cancer treatment. As a Research Scientist at Geisinger (2013–2017), I explored TBX3 and CAPERα interactions in limb development and breast cancer, utilizing CRISPR-Cas9-based mouse models and advanced molecular assays. Earlier, at the University of Utah (2010–2013), I elucidated TBX3-mediated splicing regulation and discovered a novel TBX3-CAPERα repressor complex, with findings published in Plos Genetics and eLife. My publication record includes nearly 30 peer-reviewed articles in top-tier journals such as Nature Cell Biology, Nature Communications, Molecular Cell, Cell Reports, Nucleic Acids Research, and eLife. I have presented my research at international conferences and contributed to patent submissions and grant applications (NIH, DOD, PA Breast Cancer Coalition). My technical expertise spans molecular biology (DNA cloning, qRT-PCR, CRISPR-Cas9), cell biology (organoids, FACS, immunofluorescence), biochemistry (protein purification, Co-IP), and high-throughput genomics/bioinformatics. I also have extensive experience with in vivo models, including transgenic pigs and mouse models (xenografts, PDTX). I hold a Ph.D. in Biotechnology from NCCS, Pune, India, with postdoctoral training at The Rockefeller University (RNA Biology) and an INSERM Fellowship at Institute Pasteur, France (Gene Expression). My educational background includes an MSc in Seed Technology and a BSc in Agriculture. As an educator, I have mentored students and developed courses in molecular biology, epigenetics, and therapeutic peptides, fostering critical thinking and collaboration. I am passionate about translating preclinical research into clinical applications and am eager to collaborate on innovative projects to advance cancer therapeutics and precision medicine.

Subject Matter Expertise

• ☆ Microbiology
• ☆ Virology
• ☆ Molecular Virology
• ☆ Molecular Biology
• ☆ Omics
• ☆ Genomics
• ☆ Chromatin
• ☆ Epigenetics
• ☆ DNA Sequencing
• ☆ RNA Sequencing
• ☆ Cell Biology
• ☆ Stem Cell Research
• ☆ Drug Development
• ☆ Women's Health
• ☆ Breast Cancer
• ☆ Oncology
• ☆ Cardiovascular Disease
• ☆ Pediatric Cardiology
• ☆ Technical & Scientific Writing
• ☆ Science Communication

Services

• Writing
• Research

Writing Technical Writing, Creative Writing

Research User Research

Work Experience

Principal Scientist

Kodikaz Therapeutic Solutions

November 2021 - Present

Staff Scientist

Geisinger Medical Center

2013 - November 2021

Research Assistant Professor

The University of Utah

June 2010 - June 2013

The Rockefeller University

June 2007 - June 2010

Education

Ph.D

University of Pune

June 2001 - June 2007

Certifications

• NIDA Clinical Trails Network

  NIDA

  January 2025 - Present

• Introduction to the principles and practice of clinical research 2024-2025

  NIH

  January 2025 - Present

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Puvvula PK, Johnson A, Bernal-Mizrachi L (2024). Unveiling retrotransposon-derived DNA zip code for myeloma cell internalization . Oncoscience.

Cinar M, Martinez-Medina L, Puvvula PK, Arsen Arakelyan, Vardarajan BN, Anthony N, Nagaraju GP, Park D, Feng L, Sheff F, et al. (2024). Transposon DNA sequences facilitate the tissue-specific gene transfer of circulating tumor DNA between human cells . Nucleic acids research.

Puvvula PK, Martinez-Medina L, Cinar M, Feng L, Pisarev A, Johnson A, Bernal-Mizrachi L (2024). A retrotransposon-derived DNA zip code internalizes myeloma cells through Clathrin-Rab5a-mediated endocytosis . Frontiers in oncology.

Pavan Kumar Puvvula, Arunava Roy, Anne M. Moon (2024). Discovery and characterization of anti-cancer peptides from a random peptide library . PLOS ONE.

Pavan Kumar Puvvula, Stephanie Buczkowski, Anne M. Moon (2021). hnRNPK-derived cell-penetrating peptide inhibits cancer cell survival . Molecular Therapy - Oncolytics.

(2021). Inhibiting an RBM39/MLL1 epigenomic regulatory complex with dominant-negative peptides disrupts cancer cell transcription and proliferation . Cell reports.

(2021). Novel Cell-Penetrating Peptides Derived From Scaffold-Attachment- Factor A Inhibits Cancer Cell Proliferation and Survival .

(2019). Tbx3-Mediated Regulation of Cardiac Conduction System Development and Function: Potential Contributions of Alternative RNA Processing . Pediatric cardiology.

(2019). LncRNAs Regulatory Networks in Cellular Senescence . International journal of molecular sciences.

(2016). T-box3 is a ciliary protein and regulates stability of the Gli3 transcription factor to control digit number . eLife.

(2015). A Dynamic Role of TBX3 in the Pluripotency Circuitry . Stem cell reports.

(2015). Discovery and Characterization of piRNAs in the Human Fetal Ovary . Cell reports.

(2015). It takes four to tango: Long noncoding RNA PANDA, SAF-A, polycomb repressive complexes and NF-Y in senescence regulation .

(2014). Long noncoding RNA PANDA and scaffold-attachment-factor SAFA control senescence entry and exit . Nature communications.

(2014). Coordinated control of senescence by lncRNA and a novel T-box3 co-repressor complex . eLife.

(2014). TBX3 regulates splicing in vivo: a novel molecular mechanism for Ulnar-mammary syndrome . PLoS genetics.

(2011). N-terminal PDZ-like domain of chromatin organizer SATB1 contributes towards its function as transcription regulator . Journal of biosciences.

(2010). Phosphorylation-dependent regulation of SATB1, the higher-order chromatin organizer and global gene regulator . Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.).

(2008). Acetylation-dependent interaction of SATB1 and CtBP1 mediates transcriptional repression by SATB1 . Molecular and cellular biology.

(2008). PDZ domain-mediated dimerization and homeodomain-directed specificity are required for high-affinity DNA binding by SATB1 . Nucleic acids research.

(2007). The third dimension of gene regulation: organization of dynamic chromatin loopscape by SATB1 . Current opinion in genetics & development.

(2007). SATB1-binding sequences and Alu-like motifs define a unique chromatin context in the vicinity of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 integration sites . Journal of virology.

(2006). Functional interaction between PML and SATB1 regulates chromatin-loop architecture and transcription of the MHC class I locus . Nature cell biology.

(2006). Phosphorylation of SATB1, a global gene regulator, acts as a molecular switch regulating its transcriptional activity in vivo . Molecular cell.

(2005). Displacement of SATB1-bound histone deacetylase 1 corepressor by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transactivator induces expression of interleukin-2 and its receptor in T cells . Molecular and cellular biology.

(2003). Stimulation of Tat-independent transcriptional processivity from the HIV-1 LTR promoter by matrix attachment regions . Nucleic acids research.

PREPRINT

Munevver Cinar, Lourdes Martinez-Medina, Pavan K. Puvvula, Arsen Arakelyan, Badri N. Vardarajan, Neil Anthony, Ganji P. Nagaraju, Dongkyoo Park, Lei Feng, Faith Sheff, et al. (2022). Retrotransposons facilitates tissue specific horizontal transfer of circulating tumor DNA between human cells .

ONLINE RESOURCE

Pavan Kumar Puvvula U. S. Provisional Patent Application No.62/874,239. Title: Composition and methods of treatment of breast cancer involving a novel CAPER alpha-MLL1 complex. Inventors: Pavan Kumar Puvvula and Anne Moon. Funding: Geisinger .