Dushani L. Palliyaguru, Ph.D.

Toxicologist | Aging, Nutrition and Metabolism Research Scientist | Systems Biologist

Baltimore, MD, Maryland, United States of America

About

·   Highly productive scientist with 13 years of multidisciplinary experience in toxicology, molecular nutrition, and aging/ disease biomarkers ·   Excellent communicator with proven record of advanced writing and presentation skills - manuscripts, conference presentations, and grants ·   Extensive experience in large study design, supervision and coordination, big data analysis, and management of junior scientists

Education

University of Pittsburgh

Ph.D., Environmental and Occupational Health (Toxicology) / May, 2016

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Clark University

B.A., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mathematics / May, 2009

Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America

Experience

National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, Translational Gerontology Branch

IRTA Postdoctoral Fellow, K99/R00 Grant Recipient / September, 2018Present

-Leading, managing and coordinating large population longitudinal studies within US Federal Government and Industry partnerships - Successfully writing, submitting, and managing grants and manuscripts to ensure continuity of research initiatives -Hiring, mentoring, and supervising research fellows and technicians -Applying epidemiological, machine learning and data science methods to multi-omics data to characterize biomarkers of aging and aging-related diseases -Testing nutritional and pharmacological compounds for lifespan extension, and prevention of chronic diseases (eg. Alzheimer’s)

University of Pittsburgh, Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology

Postdoctoral Fellow / May, 2016September, 2018

Identified a novel urinary biomarker of cruciferous vegetable intake in cancer prevention clinical trials using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry -Led and managed project that showed broccoli-derived sulforaphane prevented breast cancer through altering gene expression and lipidomics profiles

Healthcare Ready

Health Policy Fellow / January, 2017January, 2018

-Synthesized data, mined literature and wrote Toolkits/ Issue Brief on “Pharmacy and Emergency Preparedness: A Landscape Analysis”

University of Pittsburgh, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health

Graduate Student Researcher / August, 2010May, 2016

-Identified gene and protein expression profiles and pharmacodynamic properties of novel chemopreventive compounds -Studied the global geographical overlap of liver cancer risk factors - aflatoxin exposure and hepatitis viruses with public health data -Evaluated the molecular basis of organ toxicity induced by acetaminophen, diquat and high fat diet and tested how interventions can prevent or minimize these toxicities

UMASS Medical School, Department of Pathology

Research Technician / May, 2009May, 2010

-Investigated the role of the immunoproteasome in antigen presentation in the adaptive immune system

UMASS Medical School, Department of Cancer Biology

Research Intern / May, 2007May, 2009

-Studied the role of insulin receptor substrate (IRS) in breast cancer metastasis in cell lines and tumors using bioinformatics software

Publications

Frugal chemoprevention: targeting Nrf2 with foods rich in sulforaphane

Seminars in Oncology / Feb 01, 2016

Yang, L., Palliyaguru, D. L., & Kensler, T. W. (2016). Frugal chemoprevention: targeting Nrf2 with foods rich in sulforaphane. Seminars in Oncology, 43(1), 146–153. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.seminoncol.2015.09.013

Notch-Nrf2 Axis: Regulation of Nrf2 Gene Expression and Cytoprotection by Notch Signaling

Molecular and Cellular Biology / Feb 15, 2014

Wakabayashi, N., Skoko, J. J., Chartoumpekis, D. V., Kimura, S., Slocum, S. L., Noda, K., Palliyaguru, D. L., Fujimuro, M., Boley, P. A., Tanaka, Y., Shigemura, N., Biswal, S., Yamamoto, M., & Kensler, T. W. (2014). Notch-Nrf2 Axis: Regulation of Nrf2 Gene Expression and Cytoprotection by Notch Signaling. Molecular and Cellular Biology, 34(4), 653–663. https://doi.org/10.1128/mcb.01408-13

Isothiocyanates: Translating the Power of Plants to People

Molecular Nutrition & Food Research / Mar 26, 2018

Palliyaguru, D. L., Yuan, J.-M., Kensler, T. W., & Fahey, J. W. (2018). Isothiocyanates: Translating the Power of Plants to People. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 62(18), 1700965. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.201700965

Withania somnifera : From prevention to treatment of cancer

Molecular Nutrition & Food Research / Jan 29, 2016

Palliyaguru, D. L., Singh, S. V., & Kensler, T. W. (2016). Withania somnifera : From prevention to treatment of cancer. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 60(6), 1342–1353. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.201500756

Withaferin A induces Nrf2-dependent protection against liver injury: Role of Keap1-independent mechanisms

Free Radical Biology and Medicine / Dec 01, 2016

Palliyaguru, D. L., Chartoumpekis, D. V., Wakabayashi, N., Skoko, J. J., Yagishita, Y., Singh, S. V., & Kensler, T. W. (2016). Withaferin A induces Nrf2-dependent protection against liver injury: Role of Keap1-independent mechanisms. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 101, 116–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2016.10.003

Frailty index as a biomarker of lifespan and healthspan: Focus on pharmacological interventions

Mechanisms of Ageing and Development / Jun 01, 2019

Palliyaguru, D. L., Moats, J. M., Di Germanio, C., Bernier, M., & de Cabo, R. (2019). Frailty index as a biomarker of lifespan and healthspan: Focus on pharmacological interventions. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, 180, 42–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mad.2019.03.005

Global geographical overlap of aflatoxin and hepatitis C: controlling risk factors for liver cancer worldwide

Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A / Mar 01, 2013

Palliyaguru, D. L., & Wu, F. (2013). Global geographical overlap of aflatoxin and hepatitis C: controlling risk factors for liver cancer worldwide. Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A, 30(3), 534–540. https://doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2012.751630

Nrf2 deletion from adipocytes, but not hepatocytes, potentiates systemic metabolic dysfunction after long-term high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice

American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism / Aug 01, 2018

Chartoumpekis, D. V., Palliyaguru, D. L., Wakabayashi, N., Fazzari, M., Khoo, N. K. H., Schopfer, F. J., Sipula, I., Yagishita, Y., Michalopoulos, G. K., O’Doherty, R. M., & Kensler, T. W. (2018). Nrf2 deletion from adipocytes, but not hepatocytes, potentiates systemic metabolic dysfunction after long-term high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice. American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, 315(2), E180–E195. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00311.2017

Notch intracellular domain overexpression in adipocytes confers lipodystrophy in mice

Molecular Metabolism / Jul 01, 2015

Chartoumpekis, D. V., Palliyaguru, D. L., Wakabayashi, N., Khoo, N. K. H., Schoiswohl, G., O’Doherty, R. M., & Kensler, T. W. (2015). Notch intracellular domain overexpression in adipocytes confers lipodystrophy in mice. Molecular Metabolism, 4(7), 543–550. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2015.04.004

Nrf2 prevents Notch-induced insulin resistance and tumorigenesis in mice

JCI Insight / Mar 08, 2018

Chartoumpekis, D. V., Yagishita, Y., Fazzari, M., Palliyaguru, D. L., Rao, U. N. M., Zaravinos, A., Khoo, N. K. H., Schopfer, F. J., Weiss, K. R., Michalopoulos, G. K., Sipula, I., O’Doherty, R. M., Kensler, T. W., & Wakabayashi, N. (2018). Nrf2 prevents Notch-induced insulin resistance and tumorigenesis in mice. JCI Insight, 3(5). https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.97735

Study of Longitudinal Aging in Mice: Presentation of Experimental Techniques

The Journals of Gerontology: Series A / Dec 18, 2020

Palliyaguru, D. L., Vieira Ligo Teixeira, C., Duregon, E., di Germanio, C., Alfaras, I., Mitchell, S. J., Navas-Enamorado, I., Shiroma, E. J., Studenski, S., Bernier, M., Camandola, S., Price, N. L., Ferrucci, L., & de Cabo, R. (2020). Study of Longitudinal Aging in Mice: Presentation of Experimental Techniques. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, 76(4), 552–560. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glaa285

Fasting blood glucose as a predictor of mortality: Lost in translation

Cell Metabolism / Nov 01, 2021

Palliyaguru, D. L., Shiroma, E. J., Nam, J. K., Duregon, E., Vieira Ligo Teixeira, C., Price, N. L., Bernier, M., Camandola, S., Vaughan, K. L., Colman, R. J., Deighan, A., Korstanje, R., Peters, L. L., Dickinson, S. L., Ejima, K., Simonsick, E. M., Launer, L. J., Chia, C. W., Egan, J., … de Cabo, R. (2021). Fasting blood glucose as a predictor of mortality: Lost in translation. Cell Metabolism, 33(11), 2189-2200.e3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2021.08.013

Combining a High Dose of Metformin With the SIRT1 Activator, SRT1720, Reduces Life Span in Aged Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet

The Journals of Gerontology: Series A / Jun 18, 2020

Palliyaguru, D. L., Minor, R. K., Mitchell, S. J., Palacios, H. H., Licata, J. J., Ward, T. M., Abulwerdi, G., Elliott, P., Westphal, C., Ellis, J. L., Sinclair, D. A., Price, N. L., Bernier, M., & de Cabo, R. (2020). Combining a High Dose of Metformin With the SIRT1 Activator, SRT1720, Reduces Life Span in Aged Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, 75(11), 2037–2041. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glaa148

Study of Longitudinal Aging in Mice: Presentation of Experimental Techniques

The Journals of Gerontology: Series A / Dec 18, 2020

Palliyaguru, D. L., Vieira Ligo Teixeira, C., Duregon, E., di Germanio, C., Alfaras, I., Mitchell, S. J., Navas-Enamorado, I., Shiroma, E. J., Studenski, S., Bernier, M., Camandola, S., Price, N. L., Ferrucci, L., & de Cabo, R. (2020). Study of Longitudinal Aging in Mice: Presentation of Experimental Techniques. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, 76(4), 552–560. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glaa285

Perinatal diet influences health and survival in a mouse model of leukemia

GeroScience / May 11, 2020

Palliyaguru, D. L., Rudderow, A. L., Sossong, A. M., Lewis, K. N., Younts, C., Pearson, K. J., Bernier, M., & de Cabo, R. (2020). Perinatal diet influences health and survival in a mouse model of leukemia. GeroScience, 42(4), 1147–1155. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-020-00199-9

Evaluation of 2-Thiothiazolidine-4-Carboxylic Acid, a Common Metabolite of Isothiocyanates, as a Potential Biomarker of Cruciferous Vegetable Intake

Molecular Nutrition & Food Research / Nov 22, 2018

Palliyaguru, D. L., Salvatore, S. R., Schopfer, F. J., Cheng, X., Zhou, J., Kensler, T. W., & Wendell, S. G. (2018). Evaluation of 2-Thiothiazolidine-4-Carboxylic Acid, a Common Metabolite of Isothiocyanates, as a Potential Biomarker of Cruciferous Vegetable Intake. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 63(3), 1801029. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.201801029

Sulforaphane Diminishes the Formation of Mammary Tumors in Rats Exposed to 17β-Estradiol

Nutrients / Jul 30, 2020

Palliyaguru, D. L., Yang, L., Chartoumpekis, D. V., Wendell, S. G., Fazzari, M., Skoko, J. J., Liao, Y., Oesterreich, S., Michalopoulos, G. K., & Kensler, T. W. (2020). Sulforaphane Diminishes the Formation of Mammary Tumors in Rats Exposed to 17β-Estradiol. Nutrients, 12(8), 2282. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12082282

Spontaneous chordoma: a case report on a female UM-HET3 mouse from the SLAM study

Aging Pathobiology and Therapeutics / Dec 31, 2020

Duregon, E., Ligo Teixeira, C. V., & de Cabo, R. (2020). Spontaneous chordoma: a case report on a female UM-HET3 mouse from the SLAM study. Aging Pathobiology and Therapeutics, 2(4), 219–222. https://doi.org/10.31491/apt.2020.12.043

Longitudinal Fasting Blood Glucose Trends and Mortality Risk in Mice Differs From That of Non-Human Primates and Humans

Innovation in Aging / Dec 01, 2020

de Cabo, R., Palliyaguru, D., Shiroma, E., Nam, J., & Ferrucci, L. (2020). Longitudinal Fasting Blood Glucose Trends and Mortality Risk in Mice Differs From That of Non-Human Primates and Humans. Innovation in Aging, 4(Supplement_1), 737–738. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2625

Differences in Longitudinal Fasting Blood Glucose and Mortality Risk Across the Lifespan Between Mice and Humans

Innovation in Aging / Dec 01, 2020

Palliyaguru, D., Shiroma, E., Nam, J., Ferrucci, L., & de Cabo, R. (2020). Differences in Longitudinal Fasting Blood Glucose and Mortality Risk Across the Lifespan Between Mice and Humans. Innovation in Aging, 4(Supplement_1), 518–518. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1672

Evaluation of 2-thiothiazolidine-4-carboxylic Acid, a Common Metabolite of Isothiocyanates as a Potential Biomarker of Cruciferous Vegetable Intake (P06-017-19)

Current Developments in Nutrition / Jun 01, 2019

Palliyaguru, D., Salvatore, S., Schopfer, F., Cheng, X., Zhou, J., & Wendell, S. (2019). Evaluation of 2-thiothiazolidine-4-carboxylic Acid, a Common Metabolite of Isothiocyanates as a Potential Biomarker of Cruciferous Vegetable Intake (P06-017-19). Current Developments in Nutrition, 3(Supplement_1). https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzz031.p06-017-19

Links & Social Media

Research Interests

Nutrition
aging
Oncology
Hematology
Molecular Biology
Food Science
Biotechnology
Biochemistry
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Toxicology
General Medicine
Physiology (medical)
Physiology
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Geriatrics and Gerontology
Nutrition and Dietetics
Life-span and Life-course Studies
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