Dr. Santosh Kumar is a cancer biologist with extensive experience in cellular and molecular oncology, particularly in understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate cancer progression, therapy resistance, and tumor heterogeneity. His work integrates advanced 2D and 3D cell-culture systems, immunophenotyping, flow cytometry, and high-resolution microscopy to dissect tumor cell behavior in physiologically relevant contexts. With strong expertise in RNA–protein interaction assays, including EMSA and complementary biochemical approaches, he investigates post-transcriptional regulation and molecular signaling pathways that influence cancer stem cell dynamics and immune-related phenotypes within tumors. Dr. Kumar’s research has also focused on identifying biomarkers associated with tumor aggressiveness and exploring how stress responses and radiation exposure influence cancer cell survival and transformation. His postdoctoral and faculty-level research contributions have advanced the understanding of stem-like tumor cell populations and their role in therapeutic resistance. Through collaborative translational studies, he has contributed to projects aimed at improving diagnostic strategies and developing targeted interventions in oncology. Recognized through awards such as the Radiation Research Society’s Early Career Investigator Award and the NSBRI Post-Doctoral Fellow Presentation Award, Dr. Kumar continues to contribute to innovative cancer research with an emphasis on molecular mechanisms, immunophenotyping, and stem-cell-driven tumor biology.
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Kumar, S., Kumar, K., Angdisen, J., Suman, S., Kallakury, B. V. S., & Fornace, A. J., Jr. (2025). cGAS/STING pathway mediates accelerated intestinal cell senescence and SASP after GCR exposure in mice. Cells, 14, 1767.
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Kumar, K., Moon, B. H., Kumar, S., Angdisen, J., Kallakury, B. V. S., Fornace, A. J., & Suman, S. (2025). Senolytic agent ABT-263 mitigates low- and high-LET radiation-induced gastrointestinal cancer development in Apc<sup>1638N/+ </sup> mice. Aging, 16.
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Kumar, S., Suman, S., Angdisen, J., Moon, B. H., Kallakury, B. V. S., Datta, K., & Fornace, A. J., Jr. (2024). Effects of high-linear-energy-transfer heavy ion radiation on intestinal stem cells: Implications for gut health and tumorigenesis. Cancers, 16(19), 3392.
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Kwiatkowski, E., Suman, S., Kallakury, B. V. S., Datta, K., Fornace, A. J., Jr., & Kumar, S. (2023). Expression of stem cell markers in high-LET space radiation-induced intestinal tumors in Apc<sup>1638N/+ </sup> mouse intestine. Cancers, 15(17).
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Kumar, K., Kumar, S., Datta, K., Fornace, A. J., Jr., & Suman, S. (2023). High-LET-radiation-induced persistent DNA damage response signaling and gastrointestinal cancer development. Current Oncology, 30(6), 5497–5514.
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Kumar, S., Suman, S., Moon, B. H., Fornace, A. J., Jr., & Datta, K. (2023). Low-dose radiation upregulates Ras/p38 and NADPH oxidase in mouse colon two months after exposure. Molecular Biology Reports, 50(3), 2067–2076.
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Suman, S., Kumar, S., Kallakury, B. V. S., Moon, B. H., Angdisen, J., Datta, K., & Fornace, A. J., Jr. (2022). Predominant contribution of the dose received from constituent heavy-ions in the induction of gastrointestinal tumorigenesis after simulated space radiation exposure. Radiation and Environmental Biophysics, 61(4), 631–637.