Vikas P. Sukhatme

Department of Medicine
Harvard Medical School

Vice Chair of Medicine for Interdepartmental and Translational Programs

Chief, Renal Division

Chief, Division of Interdisciplinary Medicine and Biotechnology (IMBIO)

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
330 Brookline Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
Tel: (617) 667-2105
Fax: (617) 667-7843
Email: vsukhatm@bidmc.harvard.edu

Web Page: The Sukhatme Lab Page
1 postdoctoral fellow, 5 instructors

Our two areas of research interest are cancer and vascular biology. A major strength of the laboratory is that our research efforts are both pre-clinical and translational.

1. In oncology related studies, we have initiated studies in tumor metabolism, with a focus on glycolysis/fermentation as a way of inhibiting tumor growth. We are also exploring additional “out-of-the-box” approaches to cancer therapy. We are continuing studies in tumor angiogenesis, including anti-angiogenic therapy design and angiogenesis monitoring for cancer. In the area of renal cancer, we have identified several novel targets using an RNAi screen.

2. Several projects in vascular biology are aimed at understanding the molecular, cellular, and network mechanisms that govern small and large vessel formation during development and relating these findings to human diseases characterized by abnormal vessel formation or function or an altered systemic angiogenic state. Zebrafish are being used to discover novel genes and to decipher signaling pathways in vessel development. We are also studying the role of the angiopoietin system in vessel leakiness in disease states such as sepsis at both the “bench and the bedside”. We have new findings on the role of an endothelial specific molecule, Tie-1, in promoting atherosclerosis. In the past, we have contributed to the characterization of the anti-angiogenic state in preeclampsia in a collaboration led by S. A. Karumanchi.

3. On the administrative side, we are involved in both Harvard-wide and BIDMC initiatives in translational medicine. Fellows in the laboratory are drawn from the renal, pulmonary, and hematology-oncology divisions and there are extensive interdepartmental collaborations.

References:

• Hu G, Tang J, Zhang B, Lin Y, Hanai J, Galloway J, Bedell V, Bahary N, Han Z, Ramchandran R, Thisse B, Thisse C, Zon LI, Sukhatme VP. A novel endothelial-specific heat shock protein HspA12B is required in both zebrafish development and endothelial functions in vitro. J Cell Sci. 2006; 119:4117-26.
• Parikh, S. M., Mammoto, T., Schultz, A., Yuan, H. T., Christiani, D., Karumanchi, S. A., and Sukhatme, V. P. Excess Circulating Angiopoietin-2 May Contribute to Pulmonary Vascular Leak in Sepsis in Humans. PLoS Medicine 2006 3:e46.
• Mammoto T, Parikh SM, Mammoto A, Gallagher D, Chan B, Mostoslavsky G, Ingber DI, Sukhatme VP. Angiopoietin-1 requires p190RhoGAP to protect against vascular leak in vivo. J Biol Chem. 2007 in press.