Dr. Surya Ramachandran

About

My research goal is the use of multiple omics data for developing biomarkers and point of care tests for prognostication as well as predicting acute events in chronic cardiovascular diseases. My present focus is on developing approaches to understand how hypercholesterolemia and hyperglycaemia interferes with key genetic, inflammatory and cellular pathways to accelerate atherosclerotic lesion progression. The tools that I use to achieve my objectives are: in vitro cell cultures, in vivo transgenic models, human clinical specimens, genomics, proteomics and metabolomic approaches and targeted genome editing. My primary research interest is the study of pathogenesis of inflammatory macrovascular disease in type 2 diabetes. My studies on secretory monocyte proteins have led to the identification of cyclophilin A as an important marker of detecting vascular complications in type 2 diabetes. I received the ICMR National award, Chaturvedi Kalawati Jagmohan Das Memorial Award for Research in Cardiovascular Diseases in recognition of my research in cardiovascular disease biology. I am also the recipient of Distinguished Service Award in Cardiovascular Science Medicine and Surgery from the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences, Canada and ISHR-Torrent Young Investigator Award in 2017. As part of my societal responsibilities, I organize heart health related programs among school children and young adults to create awareness about prevention of heart disease.

Background

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree: BSc Botany (1996) University of Kerala.
• Master’s Degree: MSc Microbiology (1998) Manonmaniam Sundarnar University.
• Doctoral degree: Tumor Biology (2009) Mahatma Gandhi University/ Regional Cancer Centre.
• Post-doctoral Fellowship: Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes Biology, (2009-2012); Department of
• Biotechnology- PDF Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology.
• Visiting Scientist: Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF), 2012 Oklahoma City USA

Honours and Awards

• 2021: Nominated as member of National Academy of Science, India.
• 2018: Recipient of the Indian Council of Medical Research, Chaturvedi Kalawati Jagmohan Das Memorial Award for Research in Cardiovascular Diseases.
• 2017: ISHR-Torrent Young Investigator Award 2017 at Cardiovascular Research Convergence, Translational Health Science & Technology Institute, Faridabad, India.
• 2015: Distinguished Service Award in Cardiovascular Science Medicine and Surgery; International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences, Canada.
• 2015: Finalist at the Kern Wildenthal Young Faculty Competition (Translational Medicine) at 3rd Forum to Promote Young Investigators and Centers of Excellence in Cardiovascular Research, International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences, Creighton University Harper Center, Omaha, NE, USA, 10 -12 September.
• 2008: RGCB Merit Award of the Year 2008.

• Editorial board member, Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, an International Journal for Chemical Biology in Health and Disease, Springer Journals
• National Heart Failure Biobank, ICMR-CARE-HF Biobank Technical Authorization Committee member, SCTIMST, Trivandrum
• MSc Coordinator for RGCB MSc Biotechnology program
• RGCB Academic Committee Member
• MSc Biotechnology, Practical Examiner, University of Kerala
• Former Secretary General, International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences-India Section (2016-2022)
• Reviewer, Scientific Reports, published by Nature Publishing Group
• Reviewer, Proteomics, published by Wiley online library
• Reviewer, PLOS ONE published by Public Library of Science
• Reviewer, Mutation Research published by Elsevier

Publications

• Anandan, V.; Thulaseedharan, T.; Suresh Kumar, A.; Chandran Latha, K.; Revikumar, A.; Mullasari, A.; Kartha, C.C.; Jaleel, A.; Ramachandran, S*. Cyclophilin A Impairs Efferocytosis and Accelerates Atherosclerosis by Overexpressing CD 47 and Down-Regulating Calreticulin. Cells 2021, 10, 3598. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10123598
• Geetha, R.G, Ramachandran, S*. Recent Advances in the Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Plant-Derived Alkaloid Rhynchophylline in Neurological and Cardiovascular Diseases. Pharmaceutics 2021, 13, 1170
• Jayalekshmi VS and Ramachandran S* Maternal cholesterol levels during gestation: boon or bane for the offspring? Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 2020, 476(1):401-416
• Ramachandran S, Anandan V, Kutty VR, Mullasari A, Pillai MR, Kartha CC. Metformin attenuates effects of cyclophilin A on macrophages, reduces lipid uptake and secretion of cytokines by repressing decreased AMPK activity. Clinical Science. 2018 Jan 30:CS20171523.
• Ramachandran S*, Vinitha A, Kartha CC. Cyclophilin A enhances macrophage differentiation and lipid uptake in high glucose conditions: a cellular mechanism for accelerated macro vascular disease in diabetes mellitus. Cardiovascular diabetology. 2016 Dec; 15(1):152.
• Ramachandran S, Venugopal A, Kutty VR, Vinitha A, Divya G, Chitrasree V, Mullassari A, Pratapchandran NS, Santosh KR, Pillai MR, Kartha CC. Plasma level of cyclophilin A is increased in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and suggests presence of vascular disease. Cardiovascular diabetology. 2014 Dec; 13(1):38.
• Ramachandran S, Venugopal A, Charles S, Chandran NP, Mullassari A, Pillai MR, Kartha CC. Proteomic profiling of high glucose primed monocytes identifies cyclophilin A as a potential secretory marker of inflammation in type 2 diabetes. Proteomics. 2012 Sep; 12(18):2808-21.

Books Edited

Kartha CC, Ramachandran S, Pillai RM, editors. Mechanisms of Vascular Defects in Diabetes Mellitus. Springer International Publishing; 2017 Aug 1.