Niharika Nath specializes in research on cancer biology and prevention. She focuses on the regulation of signaling molecules relevant to cellular processes such as cell proliferation and cell death in cancer cells of the breast, colon, and pancreas. Nath investigates the anti-cancer potential of drugs such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) derivatives that are synthesized to release the small gaseous signaling molecules nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide. Collaborative works with the City College of New York using mouse models have demonstrated tumor reduction by these compounds.

Nath teaches cell biology and microbiology, and her students participate in her research projects and present at professional conferences. She promotes undergraduate research and scholarship at the university level and advocates for undergraduate research at the national level through her role as Councilor at the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR), Washington, D.C. She is the health sciences divisional editor of the CUR Quarterly.

She received a Ph. D. in biochemical engineering and biotechnology from the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi, where she studied plasmid DNA biology; a master’s degree in biotechnology from Jadavpur University; and a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Delhi University, India. Her postdoctoral research at Columbia University focused on carcinogenesis and the interplay of signaling pathways and cell cycle regulatory proteins in mammalian cells.

Selected Publications

• Vannini F, Kashfi K, Nath N. (2015), “The dual role of iNOS in cancer.” Redox Biology, 6: 334–343.
• Kodela R, Nath N, Chattopadhyay M, Nesbitt DE, Velázquez-Martínez CA, Kashfi K (2015). “Hydrogen sulfide-releasing naproxen suppresses colon cancer cell growth and inhibits NF-κB signaling.” Journal of Drug Design, Development and Therapy, 9:4873–4882.
• Chattopadhyay M, Kodela R, Nath N, Barsegian A, Boring D, Kashfi K (2012). “Hydrogen sulfide-releasing aspirin suppresses NF-κB signaling in estrogen receptor negative breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.” Biochemical Pharmacology.; 83:723–732
• Nath N, Chattopadhyay M, Kodella R, Vlismas P , Boring D, Crowell JA and Kashfi, K (2010). “Modulation of stress genes expression profile by nitric oxide-releasing aspirin in Jurkat T leukemia cells.” Biochemical Pharmacology, 79:1759–1771.
• Nath, N., Kashfi, K and Rigas, B (2003). “NO-donating aspirin inhibits beta-catenin /TCF signaling in SW480 colon cancer cells more potently than aspirin by disrupting the nuclear beta-Catenin – TCF association.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (U S A), 100:12584–12589.

Honors and Awards

• Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, Distinguished Guest Lecture Award, 2016
• Standard of Excellence Award, New York Tech 2008
• Health, Behavioral and Life Sciences School Achievement Award, New York Tech 2008
• Honorary Guest, Golden Key International Honor Society (2011) and Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society (2016)

Courses Taught at New York Tech

• BIOL 430 – Cell Biology
• BIOL 235 – Microbiology
• BIOL 150 – General Biology I
• BIOL 110 – General Biology II
• BIOL 425 – Biomedical Research I
• BIOL 455 – Biomedical Research II
• SORC 401 – SOURCE Project

Contact Info

• nnath@nyit.edu