Purdue University

Sulma I. Mohammed, DVM, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Cancer Biology, Director of Purdue Drug Development Shared Resource, School of Veterinary Medicine Purdue University West Lafayette, IN 47907 Phone: 765-494-9948 Email: mohammes@purdue.edu

Education

Overview of Research

Cancer Biology
    My current research focuses on identification of specific and sensitive biomarkers for early detection of cancer. We employ in our research, laser capture microdissection (LCM), proteomics, and nanotechnologies. A tumor biopsy contains many cell types other than tumor cells, such as, normal and activated endothelial cells, macrophages, and fibroblasts. LCM allows us to procure pure populations of neoplastic cells or normal cells and compare them either at the DNA, RNA, or protein level. Since any cell phenotype is determined by the composition and the activation status of its proteins, we used 2-dimensional gel elctrophoresis, protein finger printing, and databases to determine differences in proteins' expression profiles between tumor and normal cells and to identify differentially expressed proteins. The proteins can be used as biomarkers for early detection and as targets for therapeutic intervention.

Scholarly Interest

Publications

Refereed journals

Dibernardi L, Dore M, Davis JA, Owens JG, Mohammed SI, Guptill CF, Knapp DW (2007), Study of feline oral squamous cell carcinoma: Potential target for cyclooxygenase inhibitor treatment, Prostaglandins Leukot.Essent.Fatty Acids 76: 245-250