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Dr. Karthic Swaminathan

Lecturer in Skin Sciences

Area
School of Chemistry & Biosciences
Faculty of Life Sciences
E-mail
K.Swaminathan@bradford.ac.uk
Phone
+441274234174
Dr. Karthic Swaminathan
12 publications
2 awards

Biography

Dr Swaminathan graduated with a Bachelor in Biochemistry in 2004 (University of Madras, India) and with a dual degree in master’s in Biotechnology and a Post Graduate Diploma in Bioinformatics (2006) from Bharathidasan University, India. After completing his master’s education, he obtained International Graduate School Scholarship (IGSDHD) to pursue PhD studies at University of Cologne and received his PhD from Institute of Biochemistry (2013, Cologne, Germany) on the role of coronin actin binding proteins in cell migration. His research during his PhD studies have identified a novel role of coronin proteins in cell migration through modulation of GTPase signalling and myosin II dynamics (Swaminathan et al, PNAS 2014, Swaminathan et al, Sci Rep 2016).     

He then received a Cancer Research UK (CRUK) postdoctoral fellowship to continue his research on understanding cell migration during organismal development and cancer metastasis at Beatson Institute of Cancer Research (CRUK), Glasgow. He has uncovered several cytoskeletal signalling pathways required for efficient colonization of melanocyte during embryonic development and demonstrated how these signalling pathways are altered during the development of melanoma (Swaminathan et al JID, 2021, Papalazarou et al Development 2020, Woodham et al Curr Biol 2017, Reid et al, EMBO J 2017).  

In 2020, Dr Swaminathan joined as a Lecturer at the Centre for Skin Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences at University of Bradford. He has won research awards from Wellcome Trust, Royal Society, Academy of Medical Sciences, and British Skin Foundation.  

Research

Cancer Metastasis and Genomics Group (CMG) 

The overarching goal of his research group at UoB is to understand how cancer cells spread (metastasis) and identify novel translatable pathways/targets to treat metastatic disease.  
Nearly 90% of cancer related deaths is due to metastasis. Cancer metastasis is defined as a process in which cancer cells spread to distant tissues and organs generating tumours away from the original site. The complex metastatic process relies on cancer cells penetrating the surrounding tissue, gaining access to circulatory system, and seeding and growth in distant organs.     

The group focuses on elucidating molecular mechanisms underpinning cancer metastatic process within the context of two broader research themes:  

Theme 1: Sugars, Cell Adhesion, and Migration 
Altered cell attachment (adhesion) to the Extra Cellular Matrix (ECM), which is a meshwork of proteins that holds the cells in place, is a hallmark of cancer cells. We investigate how addition of sugars to signalling proteins (process known as sialylation) influences cancer cell behaviour such as their attachment to ECM, invasion, and migration.   

Theme 2: Epigenetics of Stem Cell Biology and Cancer
Epigenetic programs are crucial to maintain the homeostasis of embryonic and adult stem cells. Our previous work has demonstrated that a healthy epigenetic program is required for embryonic development and to maintain lineage specific transcriptional output during adult stem cell homeostasis. Altered epigenetic signalling and associated transcriptional programs are commonly observed during cancer metastasis.  We investigate the epigenetic programs required for stem cell homeostasis (development and adult stem cells) and aim to understand how cancer cells leverage these epigenetic programs during metastatic progression.     


Professional activities

  • Wellcome Trust ISSF Award (1 January 2019)
  • International Graduate School Scholarship (IGS-DHD)) (1 January 2010)

  • UKRI FLF Peer Review, (1 January 2023)
  • BBSRC Peer Review , (1 January 2023)

  • Bharathidasan University - Master of Philosophy
  • Bharathidasan University - Master of Science
  • University of cologne - PhD
  • University of Madras - Bachelor of Science
  • Bharathidasan University - Post Graduate Diploma

  • University of Bradford - Lecturer in Skin Sciences (5 December 2019)
  • Cancer Research UK (BICR, Glasgow) - Postdoctoral Researcher (1 April 2014)

  • The European Association of Cancer Research (EACR), Member (1 January 2020)
  • British Society of Cell Biology (BSCB), Member
  • American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Member (1 June 2019)

Publications