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Dr. Raji Lenin
Dr. Raji Lenin is a biochemistry and molecular biology specialist with 10+ years of expertise in vitro and in vivo experimentation in type 2 diabetes and its complications. Her research spans around discovering new paradigms in the ever-evolving field of type 2 diabetes, with a keen focus on endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced disease pathology. She have proven records of science writing and grant management skills as displayed by a key role in securing a $65K USD from various funding agencies in the USA for her postdoctoral work (2016- 2019) as an independent principal investigator.
Secured Ph.D. from Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai, India, where she studied the involvement of endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress in type 2 diabetes (2008-2016). The holistic approach of ER stress profiling in human, in vivo and in vitro models helped her in finding some insights on chronic ER stress as one of the underlying causes of diabetic pathogenesis. She was supported by the CSIR-SRF fellowship for a period of three years from, the Govt. of India, for conducting her research work.
Education
publications
awards & Achievements
Workshops / Seminars / Conferences
Work Experience
memberships
Responsibilities Held
Education
| Degree | Institute/Organisation | Specialisation | Year Of Passing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ph.D | University of Madras, India | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 2016 |
| M.Sc | Alagappa University, India | Biotechnology | 2006 |
| B.Sc | University of Kerala, India | Biotechnology | 2002 |
publications
- Lenin RR,Kumar J,Jordy G,Abhishek S, Thirumalani V,RajashekharG.Tauroursodeoxycholic acidalleviatesendoplasmic reticulumstress mediated visual deficitsin diabetic tie2‐TNF transgenic micevia TGR5 signaling. JOPT (in press)
- Lenin RR, Hui YH, Zheting Z , Parikh BH, Ivan Seah,Wong W, Yanzhang Y , Xinyi S Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Age-related Macular Degeneration. IJMS(under revision)
- SantaCruz-Calvo S, Bharath L, Pugh G, SantaCruz-Calvo L, Lenin RR, Lutshumba J, Liu R, Bachstetter AD, Zhu B, Nikolajczyk BS. Adaptive immune cells shape obesity-associated type 2 diabetes mellitus and less prominent comorbidities. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2022 Jan;18(1):23-42. doi: 10.1038/s41574-021-00575-1. Epub 2021 Oct 26. PMID: 34703027
- Jha KA, Pentecost M, Lenin R, Gentry J, Klaic L, Del Mar N, Reiner A, Yang CH, Pfeffer LM, Sohl N, Gangaraju R. TSG-6 in conditioned media from adipose mesenchymal stem cells protects against visual deficits in mild traumatic brain injury model through neurovascular modulation. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2019 Nov 5; 10(1):318. PMID: 31690344
- Lenin R, Nagy PG, Jha KA, Gangaraju R. GRP78 translocation to the cell surface and OGlcNAcylation of VE-Cadherin contribute to ER stress-mediated endothelial permeability. Sci Rep. 2019 Jul 25; 9(1):10783. PMID: 31346222
- Lenin R, Thomas SM, Gangaraju R. Endothelial activation and Oxidative stress in neurovascular defects of retina. Curr Pharm Des. 2019; PMID: 30644342
- Elshaer SL, Evans W, Pentecost M, Lenin R, Periasamy R, Jha KA, Alli S, Gentry J, Thomas SM, Sohl N, Gangaraju R. Adipose stem cells and their paracrine factors are therapeutic for early retinal complications of diabetes in the Ins2 Akita mouse. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2018; 9(1):322. PMID: 30463601
- Lenin R, Nagy PG, Alli S, Rao VR, Clauss MA, Kompella UB, Gangaraju R. Critical role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in chronic endothelial activation-induced visual deficits in tie2- tumor necrosis factor mice. J Cell Biochem. 2018; 119(10):8460-8471. PMID: 30054947
- Lenin R, Nagy PG, Gentry J, Gangaraju R. Featured Article: Deterioration of visual function mediated by senescence-associated endoplasmic reticulum stress in inflammatory tie2-TNF mice. ExpBiol Med (Maywood). 2018; 243(12):976-984. PMID: 30114984
- Jha KA, Pentecost M, Lenin R, Klaic L, Elshaer SL, Gentry J, Russell JM, Beland A, Reiner A, Jotterand V, Sohl N, Gangaraju R. Concentrated Conditioned Media from Adipose Tissue Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Mitigates Visual Deficits and Retinal Inflammation Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Int J Mol Sci. 2018; 19(7). PMID: 29997321
- Balakumar M, Lenin R, Prabhu D, Sathishkumar C, Prabu P, Mohan V, Balasubramanyam M. High-fructose diet is as detrimental as high-fat diet in the induction of insulin resistance and diabetes mediated by hepatic/pancreatic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Molecular and cellular biochemistry. 2016; 423(1-2):93-104. PMID: 27699590
- Sathishkumar C, Prabu P, Balakumar M, Lenin R, Prabhu D, Anjana RM, Mohan V, Balasubramanyam M. Augmentation of histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) epigenetic signature at the interface of proinflammation and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes. Clin Epigenetics. 2016; 8:125. PMID: 27904654
- Lenin R, Sankaramoorthy A, Mohan V, Balasubramanyam M. Altered immunometabolism at the interface of increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in patients with type 2 diabetes. J Leukoc Biol. 2015; 98(4):615-22. PMID: 26123743
- Lenin R, Mohan V, Balasubramanyam M. SEAP activity serves for demonstrating ER stress induction by glucolipotoxicity as well as testing ER stress inhibitory potential of therapeutic agents. Mol Cell Biochem. 2015; 404(1-2):271-9. PMID: 25776571
- Lenin R, Maria MS, Agrawal M, Balasubramanyam J, Mohan V, Balasubramanyam M. Amelioration of glucolipotoxicity-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress by a “chemical 5 chaperone” in human THP-1 monocytes. Exp Diabetes Res. 2012; 2012:356487. PMID: 22550476
- Balasubramanyam M, Lenin R, Monickaraj F. Endoplasmic reticulum stress in diabetes: New insights of clinical relevance. Indian J ClinBiochem. 2010; 25(2):111-8. PMID: 23105896
- Sameer MZ, Lenin R, Saravanan T, Vaidya A, Mohan V, Balasubramanyam M. Gallic acid protects RINm5F beta-cells from glucolipotoxicity by its antiapoptotic and insulin secretagogue actions. Phytother Res. 2010; 24 Suppl 1: S83-94. PMID: 19610036
awards & Achievements
- Neuroscience Institute Postdoctoral Research Support, UTHSC, Memphis, TN ($15,000) in 2019
- Recipient of UTHSC Spring Travel Award ($1000) in 2019
- Functioned as a Mentee for the ARVO Global Mentorship Program (July- Dec 2019 cohort) in 2019
- Acknowledged with Junior Postdoctoral Achievement Award (2017-2018) UTHSC in 2018
- Alston Callahan Fellowship, International Retinal Research Foundation, USA ($35,000) in 2017
- Neuroscience Institute Postdoctoral Research Support, UTHSC, Memphis, TN ($15,000) in 2017
- Winner in the entrepreneurship-based competition Memphis Scipreneur Challenge 2017
- Presented a talk as National Faculty in the Indo-US International Symposium, India in 2012
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Senior Research Fellowship, Govt. of India in 2010
- International student fellowship in Indo- Korean Collaboration, South Korea in 2009
- University Second Rank Holder, B.Sc. (Biotechnology), University of Kerala, India in 2002
Workshops / Seminars / Conferences
- Lenin R, Nagy PG, Jha KA, Gangaraju R. ER stress contributes to O-GlcNAcylation of VE cadherin induced endothelial permeability. International Conference on eye diseases, Fort Lauderdale, FL, July 15- 17, 2019
- Lenin R, Kumar Jha KA, Gentry J, Gangaraju R. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid blocks endoplasmic reticulum stress mediated visual deficits in diabetic tie2 TNF transgenic mice. 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, Vancouver, Canada. Apr 28- May 2, 2019
- Lenin R, Nagy PG, Jha KA, Gangaraju R. Inflammation and hyperglycemia mediate endothelial permeability through ER stress mediated O-GlcNAcylation. 11th Annual Postdoc Research Day, UTHSC, Memphis, TN, Dec 6 2018
- Lenin R, Nagy PG, Gangaraju R. Inflammation and hyperglycemia mediate endothelial permeability through ER stress mediated posttranslational modifications. 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, Honululu, Hawaii. Apr 29- May 3, 2018
- Lenin R, Gangaraju R. Endoplasmic reticulum stress at the intersection of inflammation and hyperglycemia in mediating tight junction alterations in diabetic retinopathy. 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, Global connections in vision research, Baltimore, Maryland. May 7-11, 2017.
- Lenin R, Maria S, Agrawal M, Aravind S, Mohan V, Balasubramanyam M. Amelioration of glucolipotoxicity-induced Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Stress by a ‘chemical chaperone’ in THP-1 human monocytes, 39th RSSDI Annual Conference Research Society for study of Diabetes, Mumbai, India, Nov 4- 6, 2011.
- Lenin R, Cho KH, Na HK, Mohan R, Surh YJ, Balasubramanyam M. Differential Stress Signaling Effects Induced by High-Glucose in Human Retinal Pigmented Epithelial Cells, International conference on Nutrition and Physical activity in Aging, Obesity and Cancer, Jeju, South Korea, Dec 13-15, 2009.
- Lenin R, Aravind, S, Mohan V, Balasubramanyam M. First Prize in Poster Presentation- Dual burden of increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and proinflammation in patients with Type 2 diabetes, 40th RSSDI Annual Conference Research Society for study of Diabetes, Chennai, India, Oct 26- 28, 2012.
- Lenin R, Balakumar M, Mohan V, Balasubramanyam M. SEAP activity as a novel ER stress monitoring assay to investigate the therapeutic value of agents with ER stress inhibitory potential, 41st RSSDI Annual Conference “Research Society for study of Diabetes, Delhi, India, Nov 8- 10, 2013.
- Oral Presentation on ‘Amelioration of glucolipotoxicity-induced Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Stress by a chemical chaperone in THP-1 human monocytes’, at the 39th RSSDI Annual Conference, Mumbai, India, Nov 4-6, 2011.
- Oral Presentation (Invited as National Faculty) on ‘Pancreatic ER stress and insulin resistance in rats under fructolipo toxicity’, at the Indo-US International Symposium on Pancreas – focusing on the endocrine and exocrine aspects, Chennai, India, Jan 7-8, 2012.
- Oral Presentation on ‘Is Endoplasmic reticulum stress a mediator of vascular permeability in the retina?’ at the Basic Science Grand Rounds, Department of Ophthalmology, UTHSC, Memphis, TN, Sep 20, 2017.
- Oral Presentation on ‘Critical role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in chronic endothelial activation-induced visual deficits in tie2-tumor necrosis factor mice’, at the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, TN, April 4, 2019.
- Oral Presentation on ‘O-GlcNAcylation of junction proteins downstream of ER stress and its effect on vascular permeability in endothelium’. Department of Ophthalmology, UTHSC, Memphis, TN, Oct 26, 2018.
- Oral Presentation on ‘Diabetic retinopathy- Inflammation passing the baton to ER stress’ at the 11th Annual Postdoc Research day, UTHSC, Memphis, TN, Dec 6, 2018
Work Experience
Other Professional Experience:
- Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Tennessee Health Science Centre, TN, USA (2016-2019) – showed that endothelial activation results in ER stress, posttranslational modifications of endothelial junction proteins that causes a loss in retinal blood barrier that can lead to diabetes-associated blindness.
- Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Kentucky, KY, USA, (2019-2021) showed organelle cross talk and inflammation in a translational environment with significant expertise in mechanisms underlying inflammation in type 2 diabetes.
- Senior Research Fellow at the National University of Singapore, SG (2022-2023) – worked on molecular dissection of age related changes in age related macular degeneration in the eyes.
memberships
- 2019- Member in the American Heart Association (AHA)
- 2019- Editorial Board member, JoLS, Journal of Life Sciences, a Postdoc Community Initiative
- 2017 till date – The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Members-in training
- 2017- Life Science Tennessee Mid-South Academic Alliance
- 2011- Professional member of RSSDI chapter, India
Responsibilities Held
1. Independent Principal Investigator Roles during postdoctoral tenure at the USA
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- Neuroscience Research Institute Postdoctoral Research Support (Jan’19-Dec’19)
- Inflammation and hyperglycemia mediate endothelial permeability through ER stress-mediated post-translational modifications (Budget: $15K)
- Neuroscience Research Institute Postdoctoral Research Support (Jan’17-Dec’17)
- Diabetic Retinopathy: Inflammation Passing the Baton to ER Stress (Budget: $15K)
- International Retinal Research Foundation (IRRF): ‘Alston Callahan Postdoctoral Fellowship
- Diabetic retinopathy- Inflammation passing the baton to ER stress (Budget: $35K)
2. Functioning as a Reviewer for scientific journals encompassing Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences (ARVO), Experimental Eye Research (Elsevier), Advances in Medical Sciences (Elsevier), Journal of functional foods (Elsevier), IJMS (MDPI), Scientia Pharmaceutical (MDPI), Nutrients (MDPI)
3. Leadership Activities
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- Served as Co-President of the UTHSC Postdoc Association: Efficiently coordinating the postdoctoral events, chairing committee meetings, new postdoc orientation as well as creating brand collateral for events
- Winner at the Memphis Scipreneur Challenge 2017 in the entrepreneurship-based competition in which my team was recognized as the winner in the 8-week-long training and competition. Functioned as a core team associate of the 5-member group; conceptualized a new product idea and established a strong business plan.
