PJ

Pooja Jain

Drexel University, American Association of Immunologists, Central Drug Research Institute

ORCID iD 0000-0002-9925-4259
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About

I am a virologist and immunologist with expertise on retrovirus-associated cancer and neurological complications for which HTLV-1 (the closest cousin of HIV-1) provides an excellent system by causing Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL, an aggressive non-hodgkin lymphoma) in the peripheral CD4 T cells and myelopathy/paraparesis (HAM/TSP) in the spinal cord as seen in Multiple Sclerosis. For the last 22 years, my laboratory has placed tremendous efforts in unraveling retroviral (HIV-1/HTLV-1) immuno- and neuropathogenesis both in periphery and in CNS utilizing complementary in vitro and in vivo systems as well as cohorts of infected individuals. Through these studies we were able to discover unique activities of a muscle protein namely Myocyte Enhancer Factor (MEF-2) (s) in regulating promoter elements at both sense and antisense strands of HTLV-1 genome. We now structured an in-depth mechanistic study with the potential of providing effective means of preventing and/or treating ATLL. These studies are highly timely given recently identified hidden epidemic in Australia - central and northern regions around Alice springs wherein >45% adults from 5 Aboriginal communities were found to be seropositive. Moreover, a significant proportion of North American ATL patients have been identified that mostly represent acute cases with no available treatment, cure, or vaccine.
I have always initiated innovative concepts and asked key questions to move the field forward in bridging two important fields of Neuroscience and Immunology while strengthening myeloid (especially dendritic cells)’ presence and activities in the CNS upon neuroinfection and neuroinflammation. This is by means of my original work providing direct evidence for the ability of circulating dendritic cells to migrate across the inflamed blood-brain barrier during an active ongoing neuroinflammatory condition such as experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE) by live intravital imaging. These pioneering observations were further substantiated by a variety of non-invasive imaging tools such Near InfraRed (NIR) imaging, SPECT-CT, MRI, and PET imaging. We also characterized a novel myeloid-specific target that has boarder applicability against a variety of neuroinflammatory diseases.
To keep up with the newest technologies of machine learning, I have taken online AI courses and have been professionally trained/certified into "Data processing and software development". I can lead a team that effectively executes the proposed plans with state-of-the-art technologies. My laboratory undertakes multidisciplinary approach that combines cell biology, virology, immunology, imaging, and bioinformatics to obtain mechanistic insights to major the questions in the field.
In addition to research, I am committed to serving community and mentoring next generation of scientists. I am an editorial board member of “5” journals and have served in numerous review panels for NIH and other organizations. I have also served in the site-visit committee for the Paul G. Allen Frontiers group. I have trained more than “60” research personnel including postdoctoral fellows, M.D/Ph.D., Ph.D., and Master students, a majority of whom come from diverse communities. All my trainees have secured independent positions in universities or companies across USA and abroad. As an established investigator with continuous support from NIH for more than 20 years, I have successfully administered the projects, established collaborations, and continuously published important papers that not only advance my field, but also broadly influence other areas of virology, viral oncogenesis, and neuroinflammation. My academic record demonstrates the high productivity (>90 papers) of our group and my ability to lead a project with confidence and success.

Employment

  • Drexel University Joint Professor
    2015 - Present
  • Drexel University Professor (Tenure)
    2014 - Present
  • Drexel University Associate Professor
    2010 - 2014
  • Drexel University Assistant Professor
    2005 - 2010
  • Drexel University Research Instructor
    2004 - 2005

Education

  • American Association of Immunologists AAI Advanced Course in Immunology
    2013 - 2013
  • Drexel University Postdoctoral
    2002 - 2004
  • Central Drug Research Institute Ph.D.
    1998 - 2001
  • Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University Bachelor of Education
    1997 - 1998
  • Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University M.S.
    1995 - 1997

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (175)