Scientific Officer
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- Dr. Sharada Suhas Sawant
Dr. Sharada Suhas Sawant
Scientific Officer 'F'
Honors and Recognitions
- First prize received in the Contest for Microscopic techniques in the International conference in 2020
- Best poster presentation award received at international Conference on Stem Cells & Cancer in 2013
- The Prof. Yasuzumi award received from Electron Microscope Society of India in 2010
- National talent search award at AIIMS-Kochi received in 2009
- Best poster presentation award in the International Symposium on Keratin Biology in 2007
- Vocational Excellence Award from Rotary Club, New Bombay received in 2006
- Excellent poster presentation international award received at Xian-China in 2004
Research Interests
Microscopy- a major in transmission electron microscopy, laser confocal microscopy and optical microscopy.
Cell Cytoskeleton- with special reference to vimentin and keratins.
Tissue/cell pathology- identification of specific sub-cellular features at ultrastructural level.
Cancer stem cell: role in the development of chemo/radiation resistance.
Special protocols- in-vitro construction of 3-D co-culture model, cancer stem cell enrichment using the strategy of spear formation, single and dual immune-gold labeling.
RESEARCH
The prime goal of our research is to identify molecular biomarkers for early detection and prognostic evaluation of oral cancer. Biomarkers can be used for patient assessment in multiple clinical settings. In this direction, we have evaluated the diagnostic and prognostic potential of some solid tumour markers, serum markers and ultrastructural morphological markers in oral pre-cancer as well as cancer. The different research projects undertaken for this, encompass the following - estimation of disease risk in oral disorders including leukoplakia and submucous fibrosis, early identification of aggressive features in primary tumours (T1/T2N0), detection of occult metastatic disease in pathologically node negative tumours (pN0), prediction of disease spread, local recurrence, and survival of oral patients, indication of post- surgery radio/chemo resistance using stem cell associated molecules, selection of patients for neoadjuvant chemo-therapy (NACT) in locally advanced oral tumours. In addition to this, we have generated a statistical model-Nomogram for the prediction of neck node metastasis in pN0 patients. We have also successfully constructed in-vitro 3D co-culture models from human tongue tissues which could be useful in understanding multistep oral tumorigenesis process and to evaluate the efficacy of anticancer drugs.
