Drug discovery
Repurposing FDA-approved drugs, identifying novel hit and lead drugs, and drug validation and toxicity testing.
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Zebrafish model
Animal model systems
Lab
The Rajpurohit Lab
Led by Dr. Surendra Rajpurohit, PhD, FAHA, a Research Scientist with appointments in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and in Biological Sciences, affiliated with the Medical College of Georgia and the Georgia Cancer Center. The lab is based in the GCC M. Bert Storey Research Building on the Health Sciences Campus, 1410 Laney Walker Blvd, Augusta, Georgia.
Research Summary
Experimental therapeutics for brain tumors and the heart
The lab works on experimental therapeutics in the glioblastoma tumor microenvironment and in cardio-oncology, using a multi-model system: in silico and in vitro work, transparent transgenic zebrafish and mouse models in vivo, and high-throughput drug discovery.
Cardiotoxicity
Cancer drug-induced cardiotoxicity, including the search for a novel drug candidate that mimics cancer drug-induced cardiovascular complications.
Cell death and inflammation
Mitochondrial function and cell death, including the role of annexin 5 and NF-κB inflammatory activity, in brain microglia (resident macrophages) and cardiac myocytes.
Impact on Patients
Two threats to patients
Brain
Glioblastoma
The deadliest brain tumor.
Heart
Cardiovascular damage
Heart damage caused by cancer treatments.
- Real-time view. Transparent transgenic zebrafish and mouse models allow cellular events to be watched as they happen.
- Safer candidates. These models are used to identify new drug candidates and validate their safety.
- Future researchers. The lab trains the next generation of biomedical researchers at Augusta University.
Research Focus
Where the work concentrates
- Experimental therapeutics in glioblastoma and cardio-oncology using in vivo transparent transgenic zebrafish and mouse models
- Developing and establishing an in vivo transparent transgenic zebrafish cellular phenotype model to study cell death
- Repurposing FDA-approved drugs
- Identifying novel hit and lead drugs
- Drug validation and drug toxicity in glioblastoma and cardio-oncology therapeutics
Research Interests
Current projects
Validation and toxicology study of K21
A phased zebrafish study of a proposed drug’s safety, developmental effects, and efficacy.
- Development
- Growth
- Behavior
- Teratogenicity
- Toxicity
Experimental therapeutics
Designing and running experiments to develop and assess experimental therapeutics across animal model systems.
Research Team
Research volunteers
Medical Scholars
Antara Chaudhary
Medical Scholar
(2025-2029)
Current affiliation: MCG
Sreeja Sappati
Medical Scholar
(2026-2030)
Current affiliation: MCG
Timothy Pham
Medical Scholar
(2026-2030)
Current affiliation: MCG
BS Honors
Shristhi Desai
BS Honors Program
(2025-2028)
Keyana Williams
BS Honors Program
(2024-2027)
Sai Nasavally
BS Honors Program
(2023-2026)
BS CURS Program
Sreeja Sappati
BS CURS Program
(2024-2026)
Timothy Pham
BS CURS Program
(2024-2026)
Shrusthi Desai
BS CURS Program
(2025-2029)
Hemala Kupusmay
BS CURS Program
(2024-2028)
Alumni
Alumni research team
Survarsha Sura
(2019-2021)
Anabelle O’keefe
(2019-2022)
Katherine McCartney
(2019-2022)
Rohan Kapuria
(2020-2021)
Chelsea Appiah
(2020-2023)
Aminah Wood
(2022-2023)
Kunal Hotwani
(2021-2023)
Raymond Chen
(2022-2023)
Vaani Balyan
(2022-2024)
Keshu Bhat
(2022-2024)
Aiden Van Derhei
(2022-2024)