The principal research interest of the lab is to comprehensively understand the biology of specific cancer types that are common in India and distinct from their western counterpart(s). Based on results obtained from two decades of work performed on patient-derived colorectal, pancreatic, esophageal and oral tumor samples, we are presently studying the canonical and aberrant functions of chromatin remodelers ARID1B and ARID2.

In parallel, based on funding from the DBT-Wellcome Trust India Alliance, we are studying early-onset colorectal cancer in the Indian population titled ‘PEACOCC: Pan-India EArly-onset COlorectal Cancer Consortium'. The project involves exome, transcriptome, microbiome profiling of tumor and stool samples followed by validation using cell lines, tumor-derived 3D organoids, nude mice xenografts, and tissue microarrays.

Positions -We are currently seeking potential PhD students and post docs to work on the 'PEACOCC' project described above in addition to a) characterization of non-canonical (nuclear and cytoplasmic) roles of chromatin remodelers and b) identification and characterization of gene fusions, allele specific expression and alternative / novel transcript isoforms through comparative analysis of whole genome / exome / RNA Seq datasets obtained in-house as well as from elsewhere for various cancer types. Students and post docs will be given freedom to develop the project(s) as per their own interests.

Details of current projects are given below:

1. Studying novel nuclear and cytoplasmic functions of ARID1B.
   https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.251637
   
   
2. Molecular Characterization of early-onset rectal cancer.
   doi: 10.1038/s41388-020-01537-z
   
   
3. Characterisation of gain of function activity of non-hotspot p53 mutations identified from Indian squamous cell carcinoma patients.
   https://doi.org/doi:10.1002/jcp.29332
   
   
4. Molecular analysis of genetic disorders.