Happenings in the CCBM

2025

  • The Kumar Lab published a review titled “Prospects for the convergence of polyphenols with pharmaceutical drugs in type 2 diabetes: Challenges, risks, and strategies” is just published in Pharmacological Reviews. Congratulations Allamreddy et.al., Thanks to our collaborators, Drs. Friend and Basu, January 2025. 

2024

  • The Kumar labs work on understanding the influence of particle topography in improving oral bioavailability is just accepted for publication in ACS Nano. This work also strengthen our ongoing collaboration with Dr. Shah, in further developing PBPK modeling applied to drug-laden nanoparticles. Congratulations Drs. Heyns, Ganugula, Arora et.al. May 2024. Our work has been selected as a front cover . 
  • The Kumar labs long-term collaboration with Dr. Shaodong Guo-TAMU led to a research article titled “ZnPP-laden nanoparticles improve glucose homeostasis and chronic inflammation during obesity” published in British Journal of Pharmacology, April 2024. Congratulations Drs. Yang, Arora et.al.
  • The Kumar Lab published a review titled “Leveraging lymphatic system targeting in systemic lupus erythematosus for improved clinical outcomes” is just published in Pharmacological Reviews. Congratulations Babalola et.al., Thanks to our collaborators, Drs. Agarwal and Mohan, March 2024. Our work has been selected as a front cover . ​
  • CCBM (The Kumar Lab) welcomes two new postdoctoral scholars, Drs. James Asenso and Vasanthan Ravichandran, January 2024.

2023

  • Kumar elected a Fellow of The National Academy of Inventors. He will be formally inducted will be inducted at the Fellows Induction Ceremony at the 13th Annual Meeting of the National Academy of Inventors in Raleigh, North Carolina, in June 2024. 
  • Kumar co-founded Peroral Biosciences, Inc., to develop and commercialize next generation of peroral dosage forms of poorly bioavailable peptides, proteins, and other small molecules. Co-inventor on the intellectual property licensed to the company [US Patent No. 11,504,339 and US Patent No. 10,780,175]. The company has raised seed funding through NuFund Venture group members to conduct feasibility studies enabling the development of proprietary products. [CEO: Sami Shihabi]
  • Our work on the discovery of small molecule ligand specific to folate receptors for improved delivery across the barriers is just published in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. Congratulations Drs. Heyns, Ganugula, Arora et.al., Thanks to our collaborators, Varma, Drs. Kumar, Garg (India), October 4, 2023. 
  • The group welcomes new postdoctoral scholar, Dr. Neha Choudhury, October 2023.
  • Kumar-lab receives NIH funding (R01, NIGMS) September 2023 (PI: Kumar; MPI: Shah).
  • The Arora lab welcomes Yirivinti Hayagreeva Dinakar to the Interdisciplinary PhD studies in Advanced Drug Delivery, August 2023.
  • The Ganugula lab welcomes Likhithapurna Kondapaneni to the Interdisciplinary PhD studies in Advanced Drug Delivery, August 2023.
  • CCBM (The Kumar lab) is participating in the Controlled Release Society Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, USA during July 24-28, 2023. Several abstracts will be presented. Swetha and Ingrid received 3rd and 2nd prize respectively in Oral delivery FG flash talks. Ingrid is invited to make an oral presentation. Congratulations. 
  • CCBM (The Kumar lab) welcomes visiting PhD student Walter Pula of University of Ferrara. He will spend 4 months with us receiving training in interdisciplinary drug delivery research.
  • Garrett Davis wins first prize in Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Award in Health Science Category. Congratulations Garrett, Roll Tide!!. (Garrett closely worked with my colleagues Drs. Meenakshi Arora and Ingrid Heyns)
  • CCBM Director, Kumar recognized with the President’s Faculty Research Award. He will be honored during a ceremony on April 19, 2023.
  • CCBM Director,  Kumar elected a Foreign Corresponding Member of The Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland’s National Academy of Science and Letters. He will be formally inducted on May 30, 2023.
  • CCBM Director,  Kumar elected a Fellow of American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). He was formally inducted on May 27, 2023.
  • CCBM (The Kumar lab)  work on Systemic anti-inflammatory therapy combined with insulin to treat diabetes eye disease (cataract and retinopathy), just accepted for publication in ACS Nano. Congratulations Drs. Ganugula, Arora et.al., Thanks to collaborators, Drs. Chandrashekar, Varambally, and Scott, March 17, 2023. 
  • CCBM UG Researcher, Garrett Davis been selected to receive the 2023 Randall Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award. He will be recognized at the Randall Research Awards recognition luncheon on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. Congratulations Garrett, Roll Tide!!. (Garrett closely worked with my colleagues Drs. Meenakshi Arora and Ingrid Heyns)
  • CCBM (The Kumar lab) bid farewell to Dr. Anuhya Gottipati, Assistant Research Scientist, and Dr. Nikhil Nuthalapati, postdoctoral scholar. Thank you for all your contributions to the group. Anu has accepted Staff Fellow/Visiting Scientist, Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) at FDA. All the best for your future endeavors.
  • Lupus Research Alliance Funds Administrative Supplement to Promote Diversity in Lupus Research (the “Diversity Supplement”), Training the next generation graduate student in lupus research. PI: CCBM Director Kumar,  Trainee: Kabirat Babalola (Jan 25, 2023-Jan 24, 2025). Congratulations Kabirat.

2022

  • Kumar named Associate Editor of The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, November 02, 2022
  • Dr. Chao Zhao, core member of CCBM receives NIH funding to develop new pain treatment strategies. Hearty congratulations.
  • Abstract from the Kumar lab titled, Oral nano-curcumin alone or in combination with insulin alleviates diabetic neuropathy in rats, is selected to receive 2022 AAPS Best Abstract Awards. Our work was ranked in the top 10% of abstracts by the AAPS Abstract Screening Committee.  Dr. Dwivedi will present this work at the upcoming AAPS meeting in Boston, October 16-19, 2022.
  • CCBM Director, Kumar elected a Foreign Corresponding Member of The French National Academy of Pharmacy.
  • CCBM collaborators (Kumar & Ganugula) along with Steve (BCM), Gladys and Erin (TAMU) developed a new line of research on dexamethasone alternatives in the form of Paclitaxel (PTX) and Urolithin A (UA) for neurovascular eye problems, just accepted for publication in ACS Chemical Neuroscience. The article is selected to feature as a front cover for a future issue. 
  • CCBM Director, Kumar elected a Fellow, Controlled Release Society (CRS). Elevation to ‘fellow’ recognizes an exceptional individual in the field of controlled release who has made outstanding and sustained contributions to the field of delivery science and technology over a minimum of 10 years.
  • The Kumar lab, contributed a mini-review on Urolithin A nanoparticle therapy for cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury, just accepted for publication in Nephron.
  • The Kumar lab, in collaboration with Drs. Agarwal and Sheik-Hamad, contributed a mini-review titled “An overview of nano-encapsulation strategies to circumventing drug-induced kidney injury and targeted nanomedicines to treat kidney diseases” is just accepted in Current Opinion in Toxicology. It was fun working with two talented undergraduates Garret and Anjali on this review. 
  • CCBM Director, Kumar has been selected to receive McCormick Science Institute Research Award, The American Society for Nutrition (ASN) and its Foundation. This award is presented to an investigator conducting clinical, translational, in vitro, and/or ex vivo research, whose scientific contributions have advanced the understanding of the potential health benefits of culinary herbs and spices. This award is endowed by the McCormick Science Institute.
  • CCBM Director, Kumar has been selected to receive Batsheva de Rothschild Fellow Award, granted annually by the Batsheva de Rothschild Fund at the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities (Israel). The Batsheva Fellows Program facilitates visits of several days of world-renowned scientists from abroad, to hold meetings with young Israeli scientists in Israeli academic institutions, to enhance and broaden their horizons. (Host Professor Dan Peer, Tel Aviv University).

2021