Poornima Paramasivan

Professional Qualifications

PGcert in Higher Education Teaching, Abertay University, 2018

Ph.D., Biotechnology (Cancer Biology), Bharathiar University, India, 2013

M.Sc., Biochemistry, Avinashilingam University, India, 2008

B.Sc., Biochemistry, Bharathiar University, India, 2006

Employment History

Post-doctoral research assistant, Abertay University, UK; Jun’ 17-present

Post-doctoral fellow, Bangor University, UK; Aug’ 14-Jan’16

Honorary Researcher, University of Liverpool, UK; Mar’14-Jun’14

Lecturer in Biotechnology, Bharathiar University, India; Jul’13-Dec’13

Personal Statement

Following a Bachelor's and a Master’s degree in Biochemistry, I carried out by doctoral studies in Bharathiar University, India in collaboration with National Dong Hwa University, Taiwan, studying molecular mechanisms involved in combination therapy of neferine and doxorubicin to induce  autophagy and apoptosis in lung cancer cells. Then I have relocated to United Kingdom to pursue my postdoctoral fellowship in cancer. At the University of Liverpool, I studied the apoptosis mechanisms induced by maritoclax and Dinaciclib. Further in Bangor University, I have worked on the cellular uptake mechanism and anticancer efficiency of nitro-reductase coated gold magnetic nanoparticles for directed enzyme prodrug therapy (DEPT) in ovarian cancer cells. Currently, I am studying the role of NRF2 in ErbB targeted therapy in breast cancer cells.

LSC 202 - Cell biology and Immunology

Senior Research Fellowship, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India, April, 2012

Junior Research Fellowship,  Department of Science and Technology (DST), India and National Science Council (NSC), Taiwan, 2010 

Travel awards (3 Nos.), Department of Science and Technology (DST), India, 2010-2013.

Membership to Professional bodies

Member of British Association of Cancer Research

Member of European Association of Cancer Research

Member of Royal Society of Biology (MRSB), 2019

Fellow of Higher Education Academy (FHEA), 2018

Awards/Funding

Senior Research Fellow, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India, 2012

Junior Research Fellow, Department of Science and technology, India and National Science Council, Taiwan, 2010 

Award for academic excellence, Avinashilingam University, India, 2008

Award for academic excellence, Bharathiar University, India, 2006

Invited talks

Resource person: “Role of NRF2 in drug resistance and cancer therapy” in the international conference on Biozone 2018 -Current trends in cancer research and therapeutics, Sacred Heart College, Thiruvalluvar University, India; 2018

Resource person: “NRF2 in chemo-resistance” in the lecture series on cancer at Sree Ramakrishna College of Arts and Science for Women, Bharathiar University, India; 2018

Resource person: “Targeting the shadows of redox modulating NRF2 to combat drug resistance in cancer” in the Technical seminar on cancer at Sree Narayana Guru College of Arts and Science, Bharathiar University, India; 2018

Keynote speaker: “Neferine as a double-edged sword towards doxorubicin resistance and cardiotoxicity” in the International conference of translational medicine at Institute of Biotechnology, National Dong Hwa University, Taiwan;  2011

“A role for NRF-2 in the mechanism of action and effectiveness of dual tyrosine kinase inhibitor, lapatinib, in breast cancer cells” at 2018 NCRI Cancer Conference, taking place on at the Scottish Event Campus, Glasgow, UK; 2018

“Neferine as a chemosensitizing agent against doxorubicin resistant human lung adenocarcinoma cells” in World Biodiscovery Congress -2018, Dundee, UK; 2018

“Neferine, bisbenzyl-isoquinoline alkaloid from  lotus  (Nelumbo  nucifera  gaertn)  induces mitochondria mediated apoptosis in liver cancer cells”, at Mitochondria in Biology and Medicine  at Centre for cellular and molecular biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, India; 2011

“Optimizing cellular uptake of enzyme/gold coated magnetic nanoparticle conjugates for directed enzyme prodrug therapy (DEPT) for cancer” in LSRNW 1st annual drug discovery congress of Sêr Cymru – Life Sciences and Health NRN, Cardiff, UK; 2014

“Ginsenoside bioconversion by bacterial β-glucosidase” in MINDCRAFT at Karunya University, India;  2007

“Medicinal and nutritional importance of chicory”, at Nutraceuticals and the future of medical science” at Kongunadu Science College, India; 2007