Manager-Scientific and Medical Writing at Ocugen, United States
Dr. Kalpana Rajanala is an accomplished researcher with a profound understanding of drug development, particularly in the fields of oncology, ocular diseases, laminopathies, and neurodegenerative diseases. Her expertise spans scientific writing, data analysis, and communication, making her a versatile professional in the biomedical research arena.🌟🔬💉
Professional profile
Education📚
Dr. Rajanala holds a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi (2006-2012). She also earned an M.E. in Biotechnology from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani (2004-2006), and a B.S. in Physician Assistance from the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Chennai (2000-2004). Her educational background lays a strong foundation for her multifaceted research career. 📚🔬🏅
Professional Experience🏛️
With a career spanning over a decade, Dr. Rajanala has held key positions in both academia and industry. She currently serves as the Manager of Scientific and Medical Writing at Ocugen, Inc. Her previous roles include editor at Cactus Communications, research scientist at Thomas Jefferson University, and post-doctoral fellowships at the University of Göttingen, Germany, and the National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi. Her diverse professional experience has honed her skills in scientific communication and research. 🧪🔬🔍
Research Interest🌐
Dr. Rajanala’s research interests lie at the intersection of cellular biology and drug development, with a particular focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying diseases such as cancer and ocular disorders. Her work has contributed to the understanding of Golgi fragmentation, epigenetic switches in retinal homeostasis, and therapeutic strategies for geographic atrophy, positioning her as a thought leader in these areas. 🧬🩺🌟
Awards and Honors🏆
Dr. Rajanala’s excellence in research has been recognized with several prestigious awards and fellowships. She received the Fritz Thyssen Fellowship and the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) grant for her research in Germany. She was also awarded the Best Poster Presentation at the International Symposium on Cancer Biology, New Delhi, and earned a Gold Medal during her graduation at the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Chennai. These accolades highlight her significant contributions to the scientific community.🥇🎓🌟
Achievements🏅
- Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
- Manager of Scientific and Medical Writing at Ocugen, Inc., leading the preparation of regulatory documents and scientific publications.
- Recipient of the Fritz Thyssen Fellowship for research at the University of Göttingen, Germany.
- Awarded Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) Grant for studying the targeting of ER membrane proteins in Germany.
- Best Poster Presentation Award at the International Symposium on Cancer Biology, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi.
- Gold Medalist in Graduation at the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Chennai, India.
- Published multiple research papers in high-impact journals, including the International Journal of Molecular Sciences and Cellular Signaling.
- Presented research findings at prestigious conferences, including the Experimental Biology Meeting in Philadelphia and the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Meeting in New York.
- Contributed to NIH R21 and R01 grant progress reports at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Thomas Jefferson University.
- Extensive experience in scientific and medical writing, including authoring manuscripts, grant proposals, and regulatory documents.
Publications top noted📜
- “Localization of nucleoporin Tpr to the nuclear pore complex is essential for Tpr mediated regulation of the export of unspliced RNA”
Rajanala, K., Nandicoori, V.K. (2012)
PloS One, 7(1): e29921.
Citations: 87
- “Phosphorylation of nucleoporin Tpr governs its differential localization and is required for its mitotic function”
Rajanala, K., Sarkar, A., Jhingan, G.D., Priyadarshini, R., Jalan, M., Sengupta, S., et al. (2014)
Journal of Cell Science, 127(16): 3505-3520.
Citations: 40
- “Kinetoplast Morphology and Segregation Pattern as a Marker for Cell Cycle Progression in Leishmania donovani”
Minocha, N., Kumar, D., Rajanala, K., Saha, S. (2011)
Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, 58(3): 249-253.
Citations: 38
- “The distribution pattern of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in the nuclei of Leishmania donovani”
Kumar, D., Minocha, N., Rajanala, K., Saha, S. (2009)
Microbiology, 155(11): 3748-3757.
Citations: 31
- “Histone H4 lysine 14 acetylation in Leishmania donovani is mediated by the MYST-family protein HAT4”
Kumar, D., Rajanala, K., Minocha, N., Saha, S. (2012)
Microbiology, 158(2): 328-337.
Citations: 29
- “Emery–Dreifuss muscular dystrophy mutations impair TRC40-mediated targeting of emerin to the inner nuclear membrane”
Pfaff, J., Rivera Monroy, J., Jamieson, C., Rajanala, K., Vilardi, F., et al. (2016)
Journal of Cell Science, 129(3): 502-516.
Citations: 27
- “Characterization of Leishmania donovani MCM4: expression patterns and interaction with PCNA”
Minocha, N., Kumar, D., Rajanala, K., Saha, S. (2011)
PloS One, 6(7): e23107.
Citations: 15
- “Gβγ regulates mitotic Golgi fragmentation and G2/M cell cycle progression”
Rajanala, K., Klayman, L.M., Wedegaertner, P.B. (2021)
Molecular Biology of the Cell, 32(20): br2.
Citations: 5
- “Geographic atrophy: Pathophysiology and current therapeutic strategies”
Rajanala, K., Dotiwala, F., Upadhyay, A. (2023)
Frontiers in Ophthalmology, 3: 1327883.
Citations: 4
- “In vitro analysis of Hedgehog acyltransferase and porcupine fatty acyltransferase activities”
Asciolla, J.J., Rajanala, K., Resh, M.D. (2019)
Protein Lipidation: Methods and Protocols, 243-255.
Citations: 2
- “Gβγ signaling regulates microtubule-dependent control of Golgi integrity”
Rajanala, K., Wedegaertner, P.B. (2023)
Cellular Signalling, 106: 110630.
Citations: 1
- “Correction: Phosphorylation of nucleoporin Tpr governs its differential localization and is required for its mitotic function”
Rajanala, K., Sarkar, A., Jhingan, G.D., Priyadarshini, R., Jalan, M., Sengupta, S., et al. (2022)
Journal of Cell Science, 135(6): jcs260004.
Citations: 1
