Susobhan Sarkar

Biography

My research career started with the enrolment in a Ph.D. program in Physiology, University of Calcutta, India (2000- 2004).  I worked in Cellular and Molecular Immunology lab, Department of Pathology, University of Calcutta, India where I completed a thesis project titled “An experimental approach towards elucidation of the mechanisms in brain tumor immunotherapy: Role of a non-specific biological response modifier”. This motivated me and created a deep interest to study tumor microenvironment and tumor immunology.  I got an opportunity from Dr. V Wee Yong, University of Calgary, to work as a postdoctoral fellow under his supervision. My interests on tumor microenvironment and cancer stem cell motivated me to explore the role of microglia/macrophage cells on BTIC biology when I started working as a Research Associate (2010 to present) in Dr. V Wee Yong’s Laboratory. The postdoctoral training of Dr. V Wee Yong helped me to work independently, venturing for more challenging researches.  Apart from pursuing research, I enjoy reading books, listening to music, playing cricket and chess and very much love to play or spend time with my dog.

Publications

Sarkar S, Yang R, Mirzaei R, Rawji K, Poon C, Mishra MK, Zemp FJ, Bose P, Kelly J, Dunn JF, Yong VW, Control of brain tumor growth by reactivating myeloid cells with niacin, Science Translational Med 12(537). pii: eaay9924, 2020. https://stm.sciencemag.org/content/12/537/eaay9924

Sarkar S, Mirzaei R, Zemp FJ, Wei W, Senger DL, Robbins SM, Yong VW. Activation of NOTCH Signaling by Tenascin-C Promotes Growth of Human Brain Tumor-Initiating Cells. Cancer Research,77(12):3231-3243, 2017. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28416488/

Sarkar S, Zemp FJ, Senger D, Robbins SM, Yong VW, ADAM-9 is a novel mediator of tenascin-C-stimulated invasiveness of brain tumor-initiating cells, Neuro- Oncology 17(8): 1095-105, 2015. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4490870/

Sarkar S, Doring A, Zemp F, Silva C, Lun X, Wang X, Kelly J, Hader W, Hamilton M, Mercier P, Dunn JF, Kinniburgh D, van Rooijen N, Robbins S, Forsyth P, Cairncross G, Weiss S, Yong VW, Therapeutic activation of macrophages/microglia to suppress brain tumor-initiating cells, Nature neuroscience 17(1):46-55, 2014. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25206040/

Sarkar S, Yong VW, Reduction of protein kinase C delta attenuates tenascin-C stimulated glioma invasion in three-dimensional matrix, Carcinogenesis 31(2): 311-7, 2010. https://academic.oup.com/carcin/article/31/2/311/2477346