Sengottuvelan (Velan) Murugan, Ph.D.
Research Associate-II
Dr. Sengottuvelan (Velan) Murugan earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry with a specialization in Experimental Cancer Therapeutics and has built a multidisciplinary research career spanning several key areas of cancer biology. His work has advanced knowledge in cancer glycomics, neuroimmune oncology, and cell-based immunotherapy through a range of academic and research appointments.
His contributions to cancer research have been recognized with several prestigious honors, including the Gallo Award for Outstanding Cancer Research from the Cancer Institute of New Jersey and the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research. He is also a recipient of a Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and a Senior Research Fellowship from the Lady Tata Memorial Trust.
His current research focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance to chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy. He is particularly interested in developing innovative therapeutic strategies through drug repurposing and rational combination therapies, as well as designing clinically relevant tumor models that enhance translational research and improve patient outcomes.
Marutpong Detarya, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Associate
Dr. Marutpong Detarya earned a Ph.D. in Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Khon Kaen University. His doctoral research focused on the role of O-GalNAcylation—the initial sugar modification of proteins in O-linked glycosylation biosynthesis—and its impact on the progression of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cells.
Following the completion of his doctoral studies, Dr. Detarya continued his research as a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Sopit Wongkham, where he investigated the significance of O-GalNAcylation in regulating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression and function. He subsequently expanded his expertise through advanced research training at the Kumamoto University, focusing on cancer stem cell biology, mass spectrometry-based proteomics, and bioinformatics approaches for cellular proteome, glycoproteome, and phosphoproteome network analyses.
Currently, Dr. Detarya serves as a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Rutgers Cancer Institute under the mentorship of Dr. Joseph N. Contessa. His research investigates the functional and molecular mechanisms of oncogenic PIK3CA mutations in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Utilizing genetically engineered PIK3CA mutation models originally developed during collaborative work with the Yale University School of Medicine, his studies aim to elucidate the biological consequences of PI3K pathway activation and identify novel therapeutic strategies for patients with HNSCC. His work has contributed to the development of advanced PIK3CA-mutant models and provided important insights into the molecular mechanisms driving tumor progression and treatment response.