Meenal Mehrotra, M.D., Ph.D.
Examining the role of the sphingolipid pathway in the progression of osteosarcoma by the non-malignant osteoblasts in the tumor microenvironment
Research Interest
My research focuses on defining the mechanisms of bone regeneration, using stem cell, molecular and immunological approaches, using models such as osteogenesis imperfecta or brittle bone disease. We also study the role of the sphingolipid pathway in osteosarcoma progression by the non-malignant osteoblasts present in the tumor microenvironment. As the PI of a NIH funded mentored K01 award, R01 award, R03 award, and an ACS funded Institutional Research Grant, a pilot project from MUSC COBRE in Lipidomics, and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation’s Innovation grant and the recently funded SCTR Discovery grant and Hollings’ Cancer Center’s Idea Award, I am establishing and characterizing the role of osteoblasts and T cells in the context of osteosarcoma and osteogenesis imperfecta.