Krishnendu Pal, Ph.D.

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SUMMARY

Krishnendu Pal, Ph.D., has multidisciplinary training and research expertise in chemistry, nanotechnology, targeted drug delivery, and cancer biology. The overarching theme of his research projects is the utilization of the simple but elegant tools provided by chemistry and nanotechnology to understand and solve complex biological problems, in particular drug resistance in cancer.

Focus areas

• Dr. Pal is involved in developing novel tumor-targeting nano drug delivery systems for specifically delivering therapeutic agents in cancer.
• Another major focus area of Dr. Pal's research has been understanding the signaling pathways responsible for imparting resistance to chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiation therapy in renal cancer and ways to override them.
• Dr. Pal is involved in understanding the role of the immunomodulation behind smoking-induced exacerbation in lung cancer and identifying novel targets to improve disease prognosis.

Significance to patient care

Dr. Pal's research has the potential to develop precision drug-delivery systems for cancer patients and improve therapeutic index by increasing efficacy and reducing nonspecific toxicity. Additionally, identifying novel chemo-, immuno- or radio-resistance mechanisms will provide new targets for sensitizing the cancer cells toward these therapeutic modalities and improving the prognosis.

Professional highlights

• Principal investigator, Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators, 2021-2025
• Co-principal investigator, James and Esther King Biomedical Research Program, Florida Department of Health, 2020-2023
• Early Career Investigator Award, Kidney Cancer Research Program, Department of Defense, 2022