SUMMARY
The research interests of Surendra Dasari, Ph.D., are in the development and application of bioinformatics methods to solve problems in the areas of clinical molecular diagnostics, cancer proteogenomics, metabolomics and systems biology.
Focus areas
- Clinical molecular diagnostics. Dr. Dasari works to develop informatics applications to support the proteomics-based, College of American Pathologist/Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments-compliant, clinical diagnostic platforms at Mayo Clinic.
- Cancer proteogenomics. An additional area of focus is the development of advanced informatics methods for integrating genomics (gene expression, somatic mutations, copy number changes and the like) and proteomics (expression and phosphorylation) data to identify potential oncogenic events in anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL).
- Metabolomics. As the bioinformatics co-investigator of the National Institutes of Health-funded Mayo Clinic Metabolomics Resource Core, Dr. Dasari is leading the implementation of an advanced untargeted differential metabolomics analysis pipeline. He is also collaborating with emergency department physicians to characterize the serum metabolic differences among patients with sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock.
- Systems modeling in aging and energy metabolism. A final area of interest is developing a systems biology resource for the Mayo Clinic Metabolomics Resource Core. This resource will aim to integrate metabolomics, epigenomics and proteomics data to understand the mitochondrial processes involved with aging, energy metabolism and insulin resistance.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Dasari's work in clinical molecular diagnostics enables the accurate subtyping of amyloidosis using proteomics. This one-of-a-kind test provides faster and more accurate amyloid subtyping informatics that is necessary to personalize therapy. The same platform is being applied to develop cancer subtyping assays. The novel biomarkers resulting from his cancer proteogenomics research will be important for finding new therapy targets for ALK-negative ALCL tumors, which are harder to treat with conventional therapy.
His metabolomics research will contribute to improved outcomes, especially for patients in the emergency department with sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock, by helping physicians make fast, accurate diagnoses.
Professional highlights
- Member, American Society for Mass Spectrometry, 2009-present
- Member, Digital Communications Committee, American Society for Mass Spectrometry, 2014-2015
- Young Investigator Travel Award, Mass Spectrometry: Applications to the Clinical Lab, 2012
- Member, Proteome Informatics Research Group, Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities, Memphis, 2010