Get to know us

Our mission

1. Mechanistic Insights: Elucidating how DTPs exploit autophagy, epigenetic reprogramming, and metabolic plasticity to survive treatment.

2. Translational Innovation: Developing targeted strategies to eradicate DTPs, including small-molecule inhibitors and combination therapies.

3. Clinical Relevance: Bridging discoveries from bench to bedside through collaborations with clinicians and industry partners.

Our vision

In our lab, we envision a future where cancer's grip is broken. Through cutting-edge science and innovative therapies, we aim to uproot drug-tolerant persister cells and bring hope to those affected, forging a path to a world free from this relentless disease. We believe that understanding the deepest survival mechanisms of cancer is the key to lasting cures. With collaboration, curiosity, and compassion, we strive to transform research into life-saving impact.

Dr. Santosh K. Guru

Dr. Guru serves as an Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research in Hyderabad. He earned his Ph.D. from the Department of Pharmacology at the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine in Jammu, India, where he studied how effective natural compounds are against key processes in cancer development, particularly those related to PI3K/Akt/mTOR-regulated angiogenesis. This endeavor resulted in cancer research articles and five U.S. patents. Subsequently, he was employed as a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology at UMass Chan Medical School, USA. Upon returning from the USA, he assumed the role of senior scientific officer at CNCI-Kolkata, Ministry of Health, Government of India, and commenced exosome-based breast cancer detection and treatment. In 2021, he became a faculty member at the Department of Biological Sciences at NIPER-Hyderabad.

Dr. Guru’s lab has made major accomplishments in cancer research by discovering natural compounds that inhibit angiogenesis and advancing preclinical therapies. His expertise encompasses pharmacology, cancer biology, and omics technologies. His current research captivates the intricate dance of cellular events and molecular pathways that give rise to drug-tolerant persister cells (DTPs)—a tenacious population responsible for tumor relapse—to uncover vulnerabilities in DTP cells. Looking ahead, he aims to overcome resistance by inducing different cell death pathways, modifying the immune microenvironment, and accelerating drug development with AI—all fueling a visionary approach to preventing cancer relapse. Through his diligent inquiries, he aspires to illuminate probable mechanisms of survival for the DTPs, thereby contributing to the advancement of innovative therapeutic strategies in the realm of cancer recurrence and anti-cancer drug resistance.

You sprouted in silence, spread your roots, and reached for the skies. We joined minds, hearts, and purpose to uproot you forever!

Discover

Our team members

Our strength lies in our individuality. Set up by Dr. Guru, the team strives to bring in the best talent in various domains of persistent cell biology.