Dr. Selvakumar Elangovan

Associate Dean, Associate Professor II

Dr. Selvakumar Elangovan is a cancer biologist with over 18 years of experience in cancer cell signaling, tumor suppression, and cancer stem cell biology. His research focuses on breast cancer and leukemia, examining epithelial-mesenchymal transition, epigenetic regulation, and mechanisms of chemoresistance and metastasis. He completed postdoctoral training at New York Medical College and Augusta University, USA, contributing to the understanding of tumor suppressor genes and metabolite transporters (SLC5A8, SLC6A14, GPR109A) in mammary tumorigenesis. His work on the SIRT1–ER α axis, DNMT1-driven cancer stem cell maintenance, and estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRα) in breast cancer stemness and chemoresistance is widely recognized. His research is supported by SERB, DST, and ICMR.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION

PhD in Biochemistry from University of Madras; MSc in Biochemistry from University of Madras; Post-doctoral Research from New York Medical College and Augusta University, USA.

COURSE EXPERTISE

Biomolecules; Biochemistry; Molecular Biology; Enzymology; Enzyme Technology.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Breast cancer migration, invasion, and metastasis; Role of nuclear receptors (ERα, ERRα) in cancer progression; Cancer stem cells; Tumor microenvironment; Chemoprevention of cancer.

Administrative Responsibilities

Associate Dean (UG programs)

Awards and Achievements

  • JRF from the Indian Council of Medical Research (2002).
  • SRF from the Indian Council of Medical Research (2004).
  • Qualified in GATE-2002, Subject: Life Sciences.

Professional Membership

  • Member, Indian society of translational research

Projects & Consultancies

  • Personalized drug combination strategies for Indian cohorts via multi-omics integration and predictive modeling; ICMR; 2026–2030; Co-PI.
  • Targeting downstream of tryptophan catabolism to overcome immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) resistance in oral squamous cell carcinomas; ICMR; 2025–2028; Co-PI.
  • Role of ERRα on the self-renewal of breast cancer stem cells, and its implications in chemoresistance; ICMR; 2021–2024; PI.
  • Decrypting the functional role of the human erythrocyte HSP70 chaperones (HSPA1 and HSPA8) in intraerythrocytic development of Plasmodium falciparum; SERB-DST; 2022–2025; Co-PI.
  • Vitamin biofortification through fermentation of common energy-dense foods of India and South Africa for young children (3–10 years); DST; 2021–2025; Co-PI.
  • Role of ERRα in epithelial–mesenchymal transition and metastasis of breast cancer; SERB-DST; 2018–2021; PI.
  • Effect of lipoic acid on radiation-induced TGFβ signalling in breast cancer cells; BRNS-DAE; 2016–2019; PI.