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Manjari Dimri Manjari Dimri
Director, MS Program
Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine

Office Phone: 202-994-7271
Email: Email
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine

Education

  • MBBS, Brd Medical College, India, 1995

Biography

I trained as a physician and transitioned to a career in conducting basic science research shortly after obtaining my medical degree. I have been working in the breast cancer research for the past 18 years and am committed to my interest in education. I dedicate a significant time to teaching several Foundations sessions for our Medical School academic curriculum, Physician Assistant program and the Master’s Biochemistry program. My long term goal is to integrate my two interest areas- research and academic medical education, and extend my focus to medical education research.

M.B.B.S. (M.D equivalent) (1989-1995), B.R.D. Medical College and associated Nehru Hospital, University of Gorakhpur (Gorakhpur, U.P., India)
Postdoctoral Research fellow in Medicine, (2001-2003) Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Research Associate, (2003-2007) Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Research Institute (ENHRI), Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Senior Research Associate, (2007-2008) Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Research Institute (ENHRI), Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Research Scientist, (2008-2010) Northshore University Health System, Evanston, IL
Research Assistant Professor, (2010-2017), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC
Research Associate Professor, (2017-present), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC

Research

My research interest is primarily focused on the search for signaling molecules that might function as cooperative oncogenic lesion with polycomb group (PcG) proteins in breast cancer using global RNAi and expression screening approaches. Another area of focus is to identify and characterize novel microRNAs that control breast cancer progression, particularly metastasis. We are currently performing microRNA profiling studies using a BMI1 and H-RAS transformed human mammary epithelial cell (HMEC) series. Identification of novel PcG-cooperating lesions and metastasis-regulating miRNAs will help us gain a better understanding of breast cancer, and also help find new targets and treatments for cancer therapy.
The current research is focused on the role of Humanin, a mitochondrially encoded secreted peptide as a novel regulator of tumorigenesis in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Here we are exploring the role of this peptide as a key player in the development of TNBC using mouse xenograft studies and if it could be targeted for the therapeutic purposes. Besides breast cancer research, we are working on hepatocellular carcinoma where I’m focused on the role of HCV derived small noncoding RNAs that form RNA Parallel duplexes and act via cell-non-autonomous mechanisms, and their role in modulation of hepatic stem cells.

Grants

ONGOING:
1 R03 CA223946-01(NIH/NCI)     
 Role: PI, 2/1/2017- 11/30/2019
Title: A novel regulator of triple negative breast cancer and breast cancer stem cell phenotype

COMPLETED:
1R03CA198614-01 (NIH/NCI)      
 Role: PI, 09/01/2015-08/31/2017
Title: A chemopreventive approach of targeting breast cancer stem cells
                                                                         
Katzen Cancer Center, GWU
Role: Co-Investigator, 4/15/2015-10/14/2016
Title: Role of a novel mitochondrial gene in triple negative breast cancer phenotype 

PC131003 (DoD, PCRP)
Co-Investigator,   09/01/2014-08/31/2015
Title: MiR-146-SIAH2-AR signaling in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
 
2R01CA094150 (NIH/NCI)
Role: Collaborator (PI-Dimri, G), 10/01/2009- 9/30/2014
Title: The Role of BMI1 Breast Cancer
 
EH09-185 Concept Award Northshore University Health System (Breast and Ovarian Cancer Research Program)
Role: PI, 03/01/2009-03/31/2010
Title: Identification of oncogenic lesions involved in invasive and refractory breast cancer
              

Teaching

MD Program: Foundations of Medicine_IDIS_8101

  • Lysosomes, Peroxisomes and Mitochondria       
  • Redox homeostasis
  • Nutrition and body weight homeostasis
  • Energy mobilization
  • Metabolism during fasting and starvation
  • Cholesterol Metabolism
 
Physician Assistant Program:    Foundations of Medicine
  • Metabolism and Metabolic acidosis
  • Cholesterol, Lipoprotein metabolism and Atherosclerosis
  • Glucose homeostasis, Diabetes and Obesity
  • Nutrition and Body weight management
 
Master’s program: Proteins, Pathways and Human Health BIOC6221
  • Oxidative stress and pancreatic diseases
  • Alzheimer’s Disease
 

Publications

Sahasrabuddhe AA, Dimri M, Bommi PV, Dimri GP. ?TrCP regulates BMI1 protein turnover via ubiquitination and degradation. Cell Cycle. 2011 Apr 15;10(8):1322-30. Epub 2011 Apr 15. PMID: 21430439

Bommi PV, Dimri M, Sahasrabuddhe AA, Khandekar J, Dimri GP. The polycomb group protein BMI1 is a transcriptional target of HDAC inhibitors. Cell Cycle. 2010 Jul 1;9(13):2663-73. PMID: 20543557

Yadav AK, Sahasrabuddhe AA, Dimri M, Bommi PV, Sainger R, Dimri GP. Deletion analysis of BMI1 oncoprotein identifies its negative regulatory domain. Mol Cancer. 2010 Jun 22;9:158. PMID: 20569464

Dimri M, Bommi PV, Sahasrabuddhe AA, Khandekar JD, Dimri GP. Dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids suppress expression of EZH2 in breast cancer cells. Carcinogenesis. 2010 Mar;31(3):489-95. Epub 2009 Dec 7. PMID:19969553

Datta S, Hoenerhoff MJ, Bommi P, Sainger R, Guo WJ, Dimri M, Band H, Band V, Green JE, Dimri GP. Bmi-1 cooperates with H-Ras to transform human mammary epithelial cells via dysregulation of multiple growth-regulatory pathways. Cancer Res. 2007 Nov 1;67(21):10286-95. PMID: 17974970

Industry Relationships and Collaborations

This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported a financial interest with the health care related companies listed below. These relations have been reported to the University and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts.

  • None