Faculty and Staff

Quick Hire Scientist fellow, CSIR-IHBT, Palampur (2016-2018)

DST- Young Scientist, CSIR-IHBT, Palampur (2012-2016)

TAKEDA Science Foundation postdoctoral International Fellow, JAPAN (2012)

Postdoctoral research associate (Wayne State University, USA, 2011).

Postdoctoral research fellowship (Pennsylvania State University, USA, 2007-2010)

DBT-Postdoctoral research fellowship (National Brain Research Centre, INDIA, 2007)

Our lab is focused on two major fields of cancer research. One is the development of anticancer drugs through repurposing of non-anti-cancer drugs with the conjugation of FDA approved anticancer drug pharmacophores and the other one is the development of targeted drug delivery system to enhance the efficacy with the minimization of toxicity. This highly interdisciplinary research combines chemist, biologist and clinician for the progress of pre-clinical studies. Our Objective is to create a pathway that bridges between chemist and biologist to translate the basic research outcome to the pre-clinic with aims of the cancer patient health benefit by improving the prognosis rate.

LIST OF PUBLICATIONS

(*Corresponding author)

1. A Halder, T Ria, S Chowdhury, B Mondal, U H Sk, R Maity, Cytotoxic Effects of Mono-and Trinuclear Platinum (II)–N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cell Lines. Inorganic Chemistry. 2025, 65 (1), 1-5.

2. K Das, R Roy, T Ria, D RoyMahapatra, UH Sk^*. Synthetic DNA-intercalator naphthalimide-artesunate hybrid drug potential ROS-generator against Breast cancer. Journal of Current Oncological Trends 2025, 2 (1), 82-90,

3. S Sharma, R Roy, A Vartak, E Sen, UH Sk^*. Synthesis and characterization of a novel Naphthalimide-Selenium based Temozolomide drug conjugate in glioma cells. Bioorganic Chemistry 154, 107998; 2025

4. N Ganguly, T Das, A Bhuniya, I Guha, M Chakravarti, S Dhar, A Sarkar, S Bera, J Dhar, S Dasgupta, A Saha, T Ghosh, J Das, U H Sk, S Banerjee, S Laskar, A Bose, R Baral Neem leaf glycoprotein binding to Dectin-1 receptors on dendritic cell induces type-1 immunity through CARD9 mediated intracellular signal to NFκB.  Cell Communication and Signaling 22 (1), 1-26, 2024

5. T Ria, R Roy, US Mandal, UH Sk^*, Prospects of nano-theranostic approaches against breast and cervical cancer. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Reviews on Cancer, 189227, 2024

6. D RoyMahapatra, R Singh, UH Sk^*, PP Manna, Engineered Artesunate-Naphthalimide Hybrid Dual Drug for Synergistic Multimodal Therapy against Experimental Murine Lymphoma, Molecular Pharmaceutics 21 (3), 1090-1107, 2024

7. N Debabhuti, P Sharma, UH Sk, B Tudu, N Bhattacharyya, R Bandyopadhyay Development of a portable, low-cost QCM sensor-based device for detecting α-pinene in Indian cardamom. Microchemical Journal 195, 109378, 2023

8. R Roy, T Ria, D RoyMahaPatra, UH Sk^*; Single inhibitors versus dual inhibitors: role of HDAC in cancer.  ACS omega 8 (19), 16532-16544; 2023.

9. R Singh, U Gupta, P Srivastava, A Paladhi, UH Sk, SK Hira, PP Manna. γc cytokine-aided crosstalk between dendritic cells and natural killer cells together with doxorubicin induces a healer response in experimental lymphoma by downregulating FOXP3 and programmed cell death protein 1. Cytotherapy 24 (12), 1232-1244, 2022.

10. N Debabhuti, S Mukherjee, S Neogi, P Sharma, UH Sk, S Maiti, M Poddar  Sarkar, B Tudu, N Bhattacharyya, R Bandyopadhyay.  A study of vegetable oil modified QCM sensor to detect β-pinene in Indian cardamom. Talanta, 2022, 236, 122837

11. U. H. Sk^*, S. Sumit, A. Rej, D. Roymahapatra, P. Manna.  Development of a PAMAM dendrimer for sustained release of temozolomide against experimental murine lymphoma: Assessment of therapeutic efficacy, ACS Appl. Bio Mater. 2021, 4, 3, 2628–2638.

12. P Prasanna, P Kumar, S Mandal, S Kumar, T Payal, U. H. Sk, P Das, V Ravichandiran, D Mandal. Synthesis of 7, 8–dihydroxyflavone functionalized gold nanoparticles and its mechanism of action against Leishmania donovani Nanomedicine, 2021 Sep; 16(21):1887-1903.

13. S Ghosh,  M Bssu, K Banerjee, C S Pal,  T Paul,  K D Bera,  K D Pal, UH Sk,   CK Panda, G  Amlan, "Arsenic level in bladder tumor of patients from an exposed population; association with progression and prognosis” Future Oncology, 2021, 17(11):1311-1323.

14. S Sharma; M Mishra; J Chhimwal; V Patial, U. H Sk^*, Dendrimer conjugated podophyllotoxin supresses DENA induced HCC progression by modulation of inflammatory and fibrogenic factors. Toxicology Research, 2019; 8(4):560-567.

15. A R Patra, S.S Roy, A Basu, A Bhuniya, A Bhattacharjee, S Hajra, U. H. Sk, R Baral, S Bhattacharya. Design and synthesis of coumarin-based organoselenium as a new hit for myeloprotection and synergistic therapeutic efficacy in adjuvant therapy, Scientific reports 8(1):2194, 2018. 

16. V Patial, S Sharma and U H Sk*. Dendrimer conjugated estramustine nano crystalline ‘DenDot’: An effective inhibitor of DMBA-TPA induced papilloma formation in mouse. Eur J Pharm Sci., 109, 316-323, 2017. 

17. D N. Karelia, U H Sk, P Singh, A. S. P Gowda, M K. Pandey, S R Ramisetti, S Amin, A K Sharma, Discovery of a Dual Topoisomerase-IIα and Akt Pathway Inhibitor NISC-6 as Potential Melanoma Therapeutic. EuropeanJournal of Medicinal Chemistry. 2017, 135:282-295.

18. Kojima C, Sk U. H, Fukushima D, Irie K, Akazawa N, Umeda M, Niidome T. Effect of Main Chain Conformation to Thermosensitivity in Elastin-Like Peptide-Grafted Polylysine. RSC Advanced. 2015, 5, 104900-104906.

19. U. H. Sk*, V. Patial, S. Sharma. Low toxic synthetic dendrimer conjugated podophyllotoxinnanodevice with potent antitumor activity against DMBA/TPA induced mouse skin carcinogenesis model. Toxicology Research. 2015, 4, 1204-1213. DOI: 10.1039/C5TX00112A

20. D. Fukushima, U.H. Sk, Y. Sakamoto, I. Nakase, C Kojima Dual Stimuli-Sensitive Dendrimer: Photothermogenic Gold Nanoparticle-Loaded Thermo-Responsive Elastin-Mimetic Dendrimers. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces. 2015, 132,155–160

21. U H Sk^*, D. Dixit, E. Sen. Comparative study of microtubule inhibitors- Estramustine and natural Podophyllotoxin conjugated PAMAM dendrimer on glioma cell proliferation. Eur J Med Chem. 68, 47-57, August, 2013.

22. U H Sk, S. P. Kambhampati, M. K. Mishra, W. G. Lesniak, F. Zhang, R.  M. Kannan. Enhancing the Efficacy of Ara-C through Conjugation with PAMAM Dendrimer and Linear PEG: A Comparative Study. Biomacromolecules. 14, 3, 801-810, February 2013.

23. JK Das, S Sarkar, UH Sk, P Chakraborty, RK Das, S Bhattacharya Diphenylmethyl selenocyanate attenuates malachite green induced oxidative injury through antioxidation & inhibition of DNA damage in mice, Indian Journal of Medical Research. 2013 Jun; 137(6): 1163–1173.

24. Y. Cheng, U H Sk, Y. Zhang, X. Ren, L. Zhang, K. J. Huber-Keener, Y.-W. Sun, S. Amin,A. K. Sharma, J.-M. Yang. Rational incorporation of selenium into temozolomide elicits superior antitumor activity associated with promotion of both apoptotic and autophagic cell death, PloS One,7, 4, e35104, April, 2012.

25. U H Sk, A.S. P. Gowda, J. K. Yun, T. E. Spratt, S. Amin, A. K. Sharma, Development of novel naphthalimide derivatives and their evaluation as potential melanoma therapeutics, Eur J Med Chem., 46, 8, 3331-3338, August 2011.

26. J. A. Hengst, X. J. Wang, U H Sk, A. K. Sharma, S. Amin, J. K. Yun. Discovery and Evaluation of a Sphingosine Kinase 1 Specific Small molecule Inhibitor, Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 20, 24, 7498- 7502, Dec., 2010.

27. S. S. Roy, P. Ghosh, U H Sk, P. Chakraborty, J. Biswas, A. Bhattacharjee, S. Bhattacharya Naphthalimide based novel organoselenocyanates: Finding less toxic forms of selenium that would retain protective efficacy, Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 20, 23, 6951-6955, Dec., 2010.

28. P. Chakraborty, S. S. Roy, U H Sk, S. Bhattacharya.  Amelioration of cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity in mice by oral administration of diphenylmethylselenocyanate, Free Radic Res., 45, 2,177-187, Feb. 2011.

29. P.S. Palkar, M. G. Borland, S. Naruhn, C. H. Ferry, C. Lee, U H Sk, A. K. Sharma, S. Amin, I. A. Murray, C. R. Anderson, G. H. Perdew, F. J. Gonzalez, R. Muller, J. M. Peters, PPARβ/δ-dependent and independent functions of the PPARβ/ δ agonist GSK3787. Mol. Phermacol., 78, 419-430, 2010.

30. K. Sharma, U H Sk, P. He, J. Peters, S. Amin, Synthesis of isosteric selenium analog of the PPARβ/ δ- agonist GW501516 and comparison of biological activity, Bioorg Med Chem Lett., 20, 14, 4050-4052, July 2010.

31. K. Sharma, U H Sk, M. A. Gimbor, J. A. Hengst, X. Wang, J. Yun, S. Amin, Synthesis and bioactivity of sphingosine kinase inhibitors and their novel aspirinyl conjugated, EurJ Med Chem., 45, 9, 4149-4156, Sept., 2010.

32. U. H. Sk, A. K Sharma, S. Ghosh, S. Bhattacharya, Prevention of cadmium induced oxidative and hepatic damage in mice by a series of spiro [6-methoxytetralin-1, 3'-pyrrolidine] based organoselenocyanates: Effect of chain length, Eur J Med Chem., 45, 8, 3265-3273, August 2010.

33. P. Chackraborty, U. H. Sk, N. Murmu, J.K. Das, S. Pal, S. Bhattacharya, Modulation of Cyclophosphamide Induced Cellular Toxicity by DiphenylmethylSelenocyanateIn Vivo, an Enzymatic Study. J Cancer Mol., 4, 6, 183-189, 2009

34. Sarkar, P. Banerjee, U. H. Sk., S. Bhattacharya, S. C Bhattacharya, Role of hydrogen bonding on the spectroscopic properties of thiazolidinedione derivatives in homogeneous solvents. Spectrochim Acta A Mol. Biomol Spectrosc., 72, 5, 1097-1102, June 2009.

35. R. Tewari, V. Sharma, N. Koul, A. Ghosh, C. Joseph, U. H. Sk, E. Sen., Ebselen abrogates TNFα induced pro-inflammatory response in glioblastoma. Mol. Oncol., 3, 1, 77-83, Feb. 2009.

36. V. Sharma, R. Tewari, U. H. Sk, C. Joseph , E. Sen, OrganoseleniumEbselen sensitizes glioblastoma cells to Tumor Necrosis factor (TNFα) induced apoptosis through two distinct pathways involving NF-ĸB downregulation and Fas-mediated formation of death inducing signaling complex, Int J Cancer., 123, 9, 2204-2212, Nov. 2008.

37. U. H. Sk., S. Bhattacharya, Synthesis of O-prenylated and O-geranylated derivatives of 5-benzylidene2,4-thiazolidinediones and evaluation of their free radical scavenging activity as well as effect on some phase II antioxidant/detoxifying enzymes, Bioorg Med Chem Lett., 17, 5, 1149-1154, March, 2007.

38. R. K. Das, U. H. Sk.,S. Bhattacharya, Protective Effect of Diphenylmethylselenocyanate against CCl4-induced hepatic injury, J ApplToxicol., 27, 6, 527-537, Nov. 2007.

39. P. Banerjee, S. Chatterjee, S. Pramanik, U. H. Sk.,S. Bhattacharya, S. C, Bhattacharya, Spectroscopic studies of 2-(2-bromo-ethyl)-6-nitro-benzo[de]isoquinolene -1,3-dione in water/alkanol mixed solvents and nonionic micelle of Igepal CO series, Spectrochim ActaA MolBiomol Spectrosc., 66, 4-5, 1110-1114, April, 2007.

40. S. Chatterjee, S. Pramanik, U. H. Sk.,S. Bhattacharya, S. C. Bhattacharya, Synthesis and Photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer of N-substituted1,8-Naphthalimide derivatives in homogeneous solvents and inpresence of reduced glutathione. J PhotochemPhotobiolA Chem., 187, 1,64-71, March, 2007.

44. U. H. Sk, S. Bhattacharya, Prevention of cadmium induced lipid peroxidation, depletion of some antioxidative enzymes and glutathione by a series of novel organoselenocyanates, EnvironToxicolPharmacol., 22, 3, 298-308, Nov., 2006.

45. U. H. Sk.,S.Sengupta, S. Bhattacharya, Synthesis and evaluation of antioxidative properties of a series of organoselenium compounds, Bioorg Med Chem., 13, 20, 5750-5758, Oct., 2005.

46. R. K. Das, U. H. Sk,S. Bhattacharya, Diphenylmethylselenocyanate inhibits DMBAcroton oil induced two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting cutaneous cell proliferation Cancer Lett., 230, 1, 90-101, Dec. 2005. 

47. S. K. Ghosh, U. H. Sk.,S. Bhattacharya, S. C. Bhattacharya, 2-(2-Selenocyanic acid ethyl ester)-1H-benz[de] isoquinoline-1,3-(2H)-dione, synthesis photophysics and interaction with bovine serum albumin: A spectroscopic approach J Photochem Photobiol B: Biol., 81, 2, 121-128, Nov. 2005.

     1) UH Sk, T Ria and R Roy, Heterocyclic Small Molecule Conjugates and Their Therapeutic applications” Patent application no.: 202531048955, Filing date. May 21, 2025.

2) UH Sk, E Sen, R Roy, A Vartak and S Sharma,D D Roymahapatra,  Naphtalimide-Se-TMZ compound and a method of preparing the same. Patent Application No. 202431048630, Filing dated:  25. 06. 2024

3) UH Sk, R Roy and T Ria, Title: “Heterocyclic small molecule conjugates and their therapeutic applications” Application Number – 202531048955, Indian patent Grant number. 578882, dated: 23-01-2026

4) U H Sk^*, P P Manna, D Roymahapatra, R Singh.  Synthetically developed DNA-targeting naphthalimide-artesunate derivatives and their tumoricidal effect.  IN Patent Patent grant no. 506734, 2025. 

1.    “Evaluation of Unani pharmacopeial formulations for effective therapy against Triple Negative Breast Cancer” Funded by CCRUM, Ayush Ministry, Rs. 3290232.00 (2026-2028)

2.    “Development of the natural glycoside (Stevioside /Rebaudioside A) based drug delivery nanoprobe-carrier for cancer therapeutics” Funded by CSIR-EMR-II, Rs. 32.0 lakhs, (2021-2024)

3.    “Synthesis and characterization of dendrimer-drug conjugated nanodevice for drug delivery and its efficacy study” Funded by SERB-DST, Rs. 18.0 lakhs (2012-2015)

1.    Ms. Rimli Bardhan, CSIR-UGC-JRF, MSc. in Biotechnology, 2025 from IIT-Roorkee, Uttarakhand.

2.    Ms. Koyel Das, CSIR-UGC-JRF, MSc in Zoology from Kalyani University, West Bengal

3.    Ms. Tasnim Ria, CNCI-SRF, MSc in Chemistry from Vidyasagar University, West Bengal

4.    Ms. Rubi Roy, CSIR-SRF, MSc in Chemistry, from Indian Association for Cultivation of Science, West Bengal.

5.    Dr. Debapriya RoyMahapatra, PhD awarded in 2024. (Past Research Fellow).

Ph.D. positions: Highly motivated students with CSIR/UGC/ICMR/DBT-JRF or INSPIRE fellowship are encouraged to apply directly to Ugir (uhocju@gmail.com) with a letter of interest along with CV.

Postdoc positions: Interested and qualified Ph.D. holders may contact for postdoctoral position to Ugir (uhocju@gmail.com) with their CV and research interest. For postdoctoral fellowships application in ANRF-NPDF, CSIR-RA, ICMR-RA, and DBT-RA , DST-Women scientist will be supported.