An Autonomous Body under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India

Faculty and Staff

Dr. Dona Sinha, PhD Senior Scientific Officer(Asst. Dir Gr.)

Department: Cancer Research

Education

  • Ph.D. in Life Science: Jadavpur University, 2007.
  • M.Sc in Zoology: University of Burdwan, 1998.

Contact

Ph: 2476-5101/02/22 extn 327

Email: dona.sinha@cnci.ac.in | donasinha2012@gmail.com 


Professional Link

ORCID-ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9434-2786

Google Scholar ID: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=mNmtWqoAAAAJ&hl=en



Institution Position From (Date) To (Date)
Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute Reporting Officer and De-facto Head of SSO-II 22.5.2025 To date
Senior Scientific Officer (Asst. Director Grade) and Head, Dept. of Receptor Biology and Tumor Metastasis 15.2.2022 To date
Senior Scientific Officer in the Gr-I and Head, Dept. of Receptor Biology and Tumor Metastasis 28.03.2017 14.02.2022
Senior Scientific Officer in the Gr-I, Dept. of Receptor Biology and Tumor Metastasis 19.03.2015 27.03.2017
Senior Scientific Officer Gr-II, Dept. of Receptor Biology and Tumor Metastasis and Dept. of Environmental Carcinogenesis and Toxicology 13.07.2009 18.03.2015

Our laboratory primarily focusses on the impact of environmental carcinogens (especially arsenic and PM2.5) on lung cancer, integrating multi-omics approaches to identify biomarkers and regulatory pathways. We have also worked extensively on understanding redox regulatory mechanisms contributing to drug resistance in lung cancer. Our research further encompasses phenotypic plasticity and its role in tumor heterogeneity and adaptation. Additionally, we are involved in the identification and validation of prognostic biomarkers for improved lung cancer risk stratification and clinical outcome prediction.

Award of Short Term ICMR-DHR lnternational Fellowship for Senior lndian Bio-medical Scientists; 2022-2023


Sl. Project Funding Agency Duration Status
1. Identification and characterization of exosomal microRNAs with prognostic and therapeutic implications in non-small cell lung cancer: An approach towards molecular therapeutic developments for patients exposed to tobacco smoke and arsenic Department of Health Research,
GIA scheme 		2023-2026 Ongoing
2. A study on the prognostic significance of Nrf2 mediated chemoresistance in lung adenocarcinoma Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi 2021-2023 Completed
3. Impact of air quality on human health: Exploration of probable PM2.5 triggered pathways associated with lung cancer in exposed population of Kolkata West Bengal Pollution Control Board 2020-2023 Completed
4. Crosstalk of deltaNp63alpha with cancer stemness and epithelial mesenchymal transition: a study during two different neo adjuvant chemotherapeutic regimens in oral cancer Department of Science and Technology and Biotechnology, Govt. of West Bengal 2020-2023 Completed
5. Exploration of the role of diallyl disulphide on EMT in A549 lung cancer cells Science and Engineering Research Board, New Delhi 2016-2018 Completed
6. Redox regulation of nuclear factor erythroid-245 (NF-E2) related factor Nrf2 in lung cancer by green and black tea polyphenols: Implication in cancer therapeutics Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi 2015-2018 Completed
7. Modulation of Nrf2 mediated redox homeostasis by green and black tea polyphenols in arsenic-induced oxidative stress WOS-A scheme; Dept. of Science and Technology 2014-2017 Completed
8. Arsenic in groundwater, alterations in redox homeostasis and risk of carcinogenesis: A field study in West Bengal Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi 2012-2017 Completed

Present Lab Members

Ms. Priyanka Saha, CNCI-SRF- Submitted thesis

Ms. Sukanya Ghosh, WBPCB-SRF-Submitted thesis

Ms. Anurima Samanta, DHR-SRF

Mr. Sabuj Samaddar, DBT-JRF

 

Past Lab Members

Dr. Bornita Das- SERB-NPDF

Dr. Kaustav Dutta- Ph.D. completed

Dr. Priyanka Prasad- Ph.D. completed

Dr. Nivedita Sarkar- Ph.D. completed

Dr. Hirak Saha- Ph.D. completed

Dr. Suchisnigdha Datta- Ph.D. completed

Ms. Rupa Chaudhuri- WBPCB-Project Assistant

 

Publication Statistics

   All

Since 2021

Citations

2328

1244

h-index

26

19

i10-index

33

27

According to Google Scholar

1.       Ghosh S, Chaudhuri R, Mukherjee M, Samanta A, Saha P, Henneman LRF, Majumdar D, Sengupta MR, Chakraborty A, Maiti B, Ghosh S, Biswas A, Sinha D*. Seasonal fluctuations in ambient particulate matter2.5 exposure differentially regulate JAK2/STAT3 signaling in never smoking rural and urban cohorts. Free Rad Biol Med 2026; S0891-5849(26)00103-6. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2026.02.006. Epub ahead of print.

2.       Ghosh S, Chaudhuri R, Mukherjee M, Henneman L, Saha P, Samanta A, Dey S, Ray Sengupta M, Sinha D*. Seasonal impact of PM2.5 on pro-oncogenic drivers among participants of a thermal power plant in India. Sci Rep. 2026; 16: 3876. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-33906-7.

3.       Ghosh S and Sinha D*. Indian perspective of PM2.5 attributed human health hazards during 2010–2025. Air quality, Atmosphere and Health 2025; 18:2765–2804. doi.org/10.1007/s11869-025-01793-6.

4.       Saha P, Das D, Behera SK, Bhatia D, Kumar S, Hajra S, Chakrabarti, Sinha D*. Management of T cell responses by anesthetic drugs-propofol & isoflurane in perioperative breast cancer patients: A prospective hospital-based study. Ind J Med Res. 2024;160(5):489-500. doi: 10.25259/jmr_2382_23. 

5.       Chaudhuri R, Samanta A, Saha P, Ghosh S, Sinha D*. The Potential of Epigallocatechin Gallate in Targeting Cancer Stem Cells: A Comprehensive Review. Curr Med Chem. 2024 31(32):5255-5280. doi: 10.2174/0109298673281666231227053726.

6.       Fakhri S, Moradi SZ, Abbaszadeh F, Faraji F, Amirian R, Sinha D, McMahon EG, Bishayee A. Targeting the key players of phenotypic plasticity in cancer cells by phytochemicals. Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2024. 43 (1):261-292. doi: 10.1007/s10555-023-10161-8.

7.       Samanta A, Saha P, Johnson O, Bishayee A, Sinha D*. Dysregulation of delta Np63 alpha in squamous cell carcinoma and its therapeutic targeting. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer. 2024;1879(1):189034. doi: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.189034.

8.       Choudhary N, Bawari S, Burcher JT, Sinha D, Tewari D, Bishayee A. Targeting Cell Signaling Pathways in Lung Cancer by Bioactive Phytocompounds. Cancers. 2023; 15(15):3980. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15153980.

9.       Datta S, Bishayee A, Sinha D*. Black tea bioactive phytoconstituents realign NRF2 for anticancer activity in lung adenocarcinoma. Front Pharmacol. 2023; 14:1176819. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1176819. 

10.   Datta S, Ghosh S, Bishayee A, Sinha D*. Flexion of Nrf2 by tea phytochemicals: A review on the chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic implications. Pharmacol Res. 2022; 182:106319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106319.

11.   Datta S, Sinha D*. Low dose epigallocatechin-3-gallate revives doxorubicin responsiveness by a redox-sensitive pathway in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells. J Biochem Mol Toxicol. 2022; 36(4): e22999. doi: 10.1002/jbt.22999.

12.   Saha P, Das A, Chatterjee N, Chakrabarti D, Sinha D*. Impact of anesthetics on oncogenic signaling network: a review on propofol and isoflurane. Fundam Clin Pharmacol. 2021; 36(1):49-71. doi: 10.1111/fcp.12732.

13.   Saha P, Datta S, Ghosh S, Samanta A, Ghosh P, Sinha D*. Bioengineering of Extracellular Vesicles: Exosome-Based Next-Generation Therapeutic Strategy in Cancer. Bioengineering. 2021; 8(10):139. https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering8100139.

14.   Sinha D, Roy S, Saha P, Chatterjee N, Bishayee A. Trends in Research on Exosomes in Cancer Progression and Anticancer Therapy. Cancers. 2021; 13(2):326. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13020326.

15.   Sinha D, Saha P, Samanta A, Bishayee A. Emerging Concepts of Hybrid Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer Progression. Biomolecules. 2020;10(11):1561. doi: 10.3390/biom10111561.

16.   Prasad P, Sarkar N, Sinha D*. Effect of low- and high-level groundwater arsenic on peripheral blood and lung function of exposed rural women. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2020; 115:104684. doi: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2020.104684.

17.   Sinha D *, Prasad P. Health effects inflicted by chronic low-level arsenic contamination in groundwater: A global public health challenge. J Appl Toxicol. 2020;40(1):87–131. doi:10.1002/jat.3823

18.   Sarkar N, Das B, Bishayee A, Sinha D*. Arsenal of Phytochemicals to Combat Against Arsenic-Induced Mitochondrial Stress and Cancer. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2020;33(17):1230-1256. doi: 10.1089/ars.2019.7950.

 

Book Chapters

1.       Saha P, Samanta A, Ghosh S, Chaudhuri R, Sinha D*. Regulation of cell death by cysteine proteases in breast cancer in Book “Handbook of proteases in cancer cellular and molecular aspects”. Eds Chakrabarti S; CRC Press 2024; e book ISBN: 9781003394716, pp:411-428

2.       Ghosh S, Saha P, Samanta A, Chaudhuri R, Sinha D*. Signal transduction and regulation of phospholipases during tumorigenic processes in Book “Vol 4: Phospholipases in physiology and pathology”; Eds Chakrabarti S; Elsevier 2022; Vol:4, pp: 329-347

3.       Ghosh S, Samanta A, Prasad P, Sinha D*. Therapeutic implications of long noncoding RNA in lung cancer in Book “Handbook of Oxidative stress”; Eds Chakrabarti S; Springer Nature 2021; doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-1247-3_70-1

4.       Datta S, Saha P, Dey S, Sinha D *. Natural Products as Chemosensitizers for Adjunct Therapy in Cancer Management in Book “Pharmacotherapeutic Botanicals for Cancer Chemoprevention”; Eds; Kumar M, Sharma A, Kumar P; Springer Nature, 2020; pp:67-119.

5.       Datta S, Saha P, Sinha D *. Level of oxidative stress: A fate determiner for carcinogenesis and anti-carcinogenesis in eBook “Oxidative Stress and Natural Antioxidants,” for the book series “Bentham Briefs in Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy”; Eds; Kaur P, Mehta RG, Robin, Thind TS, Arora S; Bentham Science Publishers, 2020; Vol:1, pp:1-53

*Corresponding author

Life Member, Indian association for Cancer Research

Life Member, Environmental Mutagen Society of India

Life Member, All India Congress of Genetics and Genomics

Life Member, The Zoological Society Kolkata

Life Member, Zoology Alumni Association Burdwan University

Candidates with a strong academic record and research interest, particularly those holding independent fellowships for PhD positions, are encouraged to apply. Applications for postdoctoral positions are also welcome. Interested individuals may submit their resume and statement of purpose via email.