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Dr. Sheikh Tasduq Abdullah
Senior Principal Scientist
Pharmacology Division
CSIR – Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine,Canal Road, Jammu – 180001
Email: stabdullah[at]iiim[dot]res[dot]in
Bio Sketch
Sheikh Tasduq Abdullah is currently working as Principal Scientist at the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, India in the PK-PD and Toxicology Division. He received his PhD in Toxicology in 2004 from Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, India. He did his post-doctoral training at Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America in the laboratory of Dr. (Professor) Micheal R. Charlton. In 2006, he joined as scientist at the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, India. His primary research interest lies in understanding mechanistic basis and longitudinal chronology of whole body, tissue, and cellular physiology in a small animal models of fibrosing NASH. The other area of interest is skin photo-damage (Photo-carcinogenesis and Photo-aging), melanogenesis and melanoma in experimental animal models.
Research Interest:
The major focus of our lab is to understand the pathophysiology/pathogenesis of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and develop therapeutic interventions using novel approaches.
Liver is the major player in the regulation of fat metabolism as it integrates endogenous and exogenous fatty acids. Any defect/perturbation in the liver fat metabolism potentially impacts the functioning of the liver. Prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been on an inclined trajectory with the rise in obesity. NAFLD can progress to cirrhosis and liver failure in 3% to 15%. Despite its seriousness, the molecular mechanisms underlying lipotoxicity in NAFLD remain poorly understood. Our research delves into metabolic and lipotoxic changes in NAFLD, treatment mechanisms, and in vivo disease models.Additionally, our research explores skin photodamage, including photo-carcinogenesis, photo-aging, melanogenesis, and melanoma. Solar UV radiation triggers various skin damage mechanisms, including UVB-induced photo-aging and cancer. We investigate the cellular, biochemical, and molecular aspects of UVB-induced damage, seeking potential therapeutic targets. Melanogenesis modulation and understanding UVB-induced ROS generation, ER stress, autophagy, and apoptosis are among our research interests. Furthermore, we’re exploring the interplay of autophagy and DNA Damage Response in UVB-induced skin photodamage.
Liver is the major player in the regulation of fat metabolism as it integrates endogenous and exogenous fatty acids. Any defect/perturbation in the liver fat metabolism potentially impacts the functioning of the liver. Prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been on an inclined trajectory with the rise in obesity. NAFLD can progress to cirrhosis and liver failure in 3% to 15%. Despite its seriousness, the molecular mechanisms underlying lipotoxicity in NAFLD remain poorly understood. Our research delves into metabolic and lipotoxic changes in NAFLD, treatment mechanisms, and in vivo disease models.Additionally, our research explores skin photodamage, including photo-carcinogenesis, photo-aging, melanogenesis, and melanoma. Solar UV radiation triggers various skin damage mechanisms, including UVB-induced photo-aging and cancer. We investigate the cellular, biochemical, and molecular aspects of UVB-induced damage, seeking potential therapeutic targets. Melanogenesis modulation and understanding UVB-induced ROS generation, ER stress, autophagy, and apoptosis are among our research interests. Furthermore, we’re exploring the interplay of autophagy and DNA Damage Response in UVB-induced skin photodamage.
Education
| Degree | Subjects | University | Qualifying Year |
| Post Doctoral Training | Hepatology | Dr. (Professor) Micheal R. Charlton,Director Liver Transplant Unit Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America. | 2011 |
| Ph.D | Biochemical Toxicology | Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar, M.P., India | 2004, December |
| M.Sc | Forensic and Medical Toxicology | Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar, M.P., India | 1999, August |
| B.Sc | English, Chemistry, Zoology, Botany | University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India | 1996, November |
Position Held
| Position Held | Period | Organization |
| Senior Principal Scientist | 2021- Present | CSIR-IIIM |
| Principal Scientist | 2016- 2021 | CSIR-IIIM |
| Senior Scientist | 2012-2016 | CSIR-IIIM |
| Scientist | 2008-2012 | CSIR-IIIM |
| Scientist-B | 2006-2008 | CSIR-IIIM |
Area of Expertise
- To develop of small animal models of NAFLD model and to elucidate the longitudinal, tissue, and cell-specific sequence of events in the pathogenesis of NAFLD -induced chronic liver damage.
- To decipher the Cellular, Molecular and Pathophysiological basis of in UVB -induced skin photodamage/photocarcinogenesis
- To understand the mechanistic basis for melanogenesis and evaluation of natural products as potential pigmentation modulating agents.
- To evaluate the therapeutic potential of natural compounds as therapeutic options and/or drug discovery approach in NAFLD, Photodamage and Skin Melanoma.
Projects
- Mechanistic insights in the coexisting pathogenesis of Ethanol and High Cholesterol/High Fat diet-induced End Stage Liver Disease via modulation of Adiponectin, insulin and Cannabinoid receptors utilizing natural products and their derivative (2020-1065).Funding agency: Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India,Total budget: INR 6166500/-
- Pre-clinical Pharmacological Evaluation , PK/PD/Toxicity and , Safety studies of Identified hits/leads (MLP 21006).
Publications
| Authors | Title | Journal | |
| Ashraf U Nissar, LoveSharma, Malik A Mudasir, Lone A Nazir, Sheikh A Umar, Parduman R Sharma, Ram A Wishwakarma,Sheikh A Tasduq. | Chemical chaperone 4-phenyl butyric acid (4PBA) reduces hepatocellular lipid accumulation and lipotoxicity through induction of autophagy | Journal of Lipid Research, 2017 | |
| Nazir, L, Naikoo, S., &Tasduq, S. A. (2020) |
Trigonelline, a naturally occurring alkaloidal agent protects ultraviolet-B (UV-B) irradiation induced apoptoticcell death in human skin fibroblasts via attenuation of oxidative stress, restoration of cellular calcium homeostasis and prevention of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. | Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology 2020 |
|
| Tanveer, M.A., Rashid, H., Nazir, L.A., Archoo, S., Shahid, N.H., Ragni, G., Umar, S.A. and Tasduq, S.A., 2023 | Trigonelline, a plant derived alkaloid prevents ultraviolet-B-induced oxidative DNA damagein primary human dermal fibroblasts and BALB/c mice via modulation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Akt- Nrf2 signalling axis. |
Experimental Gerontology ,2023 | |
| Shahid, N.H., Rashid, H., Kumar, S., Archoo, S., Umar, S.A., Nazir, L.A., Parvinder, S.P. and Tasduq, S.A., 2023 |
Inhibition of melanogenesis by 3-(1′methyltetrahydropyridinyl)-2, 4- 6-trihydroxy acetophenone via suppressing the activity of cAMP response element- binding protein (CREB) and nuclear exclusion of CREB- regulated transcriptioncoactivator 1 (CRTC1) |
European Journal of Pharmacology 2023 |
|
| Sharma, R.R., Rashid, H. and Abdullah, S.T., 2023 |
A small animal model of NASH with progressive steatohepatitis–induced by fast food diet and alcohol in C57BL/6J mouse with high human pathophysiological proximity. |
Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2023 |
|
| Bhat, A.M., Haroon, R., Naikoo, S., Sharma, R.R., Archoo, S. and Tasduq, S.A., 2024 | (2-Methylbutyryl) shikonin Naturally Occurring Shikonin Derivative Ameliorates the α-MSH-Induced Melanogenesis via ERK1/2 and p38 MAP Kinase-Mediated Down-Regulation of the MITF Transcription Factor. |
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Awards and Honours
- Ganesh Ram Mukharya Memorial Gold Medal ForIst Class First in M.Sc. from Dr. H.S. Gour
(Sagar) University. - National Eligibility Test (NET) Qualified-2001.
- DCF award by National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA)/National Institute of Health (NIH)
USA, to attend the 43rd Meeting of TIAFT 2005 held at Seoul, Korea, September, 2005 - Regional Representative of South Asian Congress of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Science
and Toxicology (SAFCON). - International Union of Toxicology (IUTOX), Young Scientist Award (RASS-2008) at
Germany. - Indian Council of Medical Research Young Biomedical Scientist Fellowship-2009.
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Raman Fellowship 2011-2012.
- Indo-US Research Fellowship Award- 2012
- ICMR Lala Ram Chand Kandhari Award-2016
Students
| Photo | Name | Area of Interest | Position |
 |
Aalim Maqsood Bhat | To study the interplay between melanogensis and melanoma . | SRF – UGC NET,ICMR,GATE,ASRB |
 |
Ragni Gupta | Mechanistic studies on Ultraviolet Radiations -induced human skin pathologies. | JRF – CSIR NET |
 |
Tusharika Kotra | Mechanistic and therapeutic understanding of lipopolysaccharide induced lung injury/lung inflammation | JRF – CSIR NET |
 |
Shikha Gorke | Targeting Molecular Pathways : Unravelling Autophagy and DNA Damage in Non- Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) |
JRF-CSIR |
 |
Irfan Ahmad Wani | Interplay between Autophagy and NAFLD | JRF-DBT |
 |
Mushtaq Ahmad | Cellular and Molecular Basis of Metabolic Syndrome Induced End Stage Liver Disease. |
JRF-UGC |
 |
Irshad Ahmad Bhat | Interplay between Melanogenesis and Melanoma: Unravelling the Complex Role of MITF | CSIR-JRF |
Alumni
| Photo | Name | Area of Interest | Position |
| Farrukh Rana Mufti | Insights into Biological and Molecular Basis of Ultraviolet Radiation Induced Photoaging in Human Skin Models | Faculty at University of Kashmir . | |
 |
Rafiq Ahmad Rather | Molecular mechanisms of the novel molecules that enhance the anti- tumor activity of Ultra violet B- radiations in Melanoma models |
Scientific Officer, Forensic Science Laboratory, Government of J&K |
 |
Nissar Ul Ashraf | Cellular and molecular events of lipotoxicity in Hepatocytes: from fat accumulation to lipo- apoptosis |
Assistant Professor,Government Degree college Sopore Kashmir |
| Afnan Quadri | Biochemical and Molecular Basis of UV-B Induced Photoaging : Therapeutic Role of Plant Based Agents | Post Doctoral Researcher at All India Institute of Medical Sciences. New Delhi, |
|
 |
Love Sharma | Molecular mechanisms andtheurapetic interventions in metabolicdyslipidemia induced chronic liver damage |
Scientist, CSIR-IIIM Jammu |
 |
Nazir Ahmad Lone |
Exploring the role of Endoplasmic Reticulum stress mediated autophagy signaling Axis in Melanoma:Natural product based analogs as therapeutic agents |
Post Doc Fellow, Penn State University ,Pensylvania USA. |
 |
Umar Ahmad Sheikh | Understanding the Interplay of Autophagy and DNA Damage Response mechanism in the regulation of UVB –induced skin photodamage | Post DocFellow,University of Wisconsin,USA |
 |
Tanveer Ahmad Malik |
Deciphering molecular basis of UV-B induced skin photodamage in experimental models: therapeutic role of plant based alkaloid,IIIM-TG |
Post Doc Fellow, Rochester University New York,USA |
 |
Divya Gupta | Discovery and mechanistic studies of plant based products as photo-protective agents against experimental skin photodamage | Post Doc Fellow at Uppsala University ,Sweden |
 |
Shahid Hussain Naikoo | Melanogenesis/Photo damage |
Post Doc Fellow at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York USA |
 |
Amit Kumar | Discovery of Natural Products and their Structural Chemo- Selective Modification for Pharmacological Applications |
Technical Assistant at CSIR- NEIST, Jorhat Assam |
 |
Raghu Rai Sharma | NAFLD | DST INSPIRE JRF |
 |
Archoo Sajida | Mechanistic Studies on Ultraviolet Radiation Induced Skin Photo-damage: Therapeutic Role of Hippophae rhamnoids L. a high altitude medicinal plant of Trans-Himalayan Ladakh. | SRF – UGC NET |