CBRC
CHRIST BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH CENTRE
CHRIST COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS)
IRINJALAKUDA, KERALA, INDIA
Dr Hafiza Padinharayil, PhD
Scientist C & Assistant Professor
Cancer Biology | Cell Communication | Extracellular
Vesicles | Immune Cells | Multi-omics
To establish a translational precision oncology research program focused on liquid biopsy-based early detection and targeted personalised therapy. My work integrates extracellular vesicle biology, tumor metabolism, cell-communication and immune signaling to decode cancer progression, therapy response, and resistance, with the ultimate goal of improving patient-specific therapeutic strategies and clinical outcomes.
BIOSKETCH
Dr. Hafiza Padinharayil is an Assistant Professor and Scientist C at the Christ Biological Research Centre (CBRC), specializing in cancer biology and precision oncology. Her research focuses on extracellular vesicles (EVs), liquid biopsy technologies, tumor metabolism, and tumor-immune interactions in solid malignancies, particularly non-small cell lung cancer.
She completed her PhD in Cancer Biology with a research focus on sortilin-mediated extracellular vesicle trafficking and its role in lung cancer progression. Her work integrates multi-omics approaches, functional in vitro models, and clinical biospecimens to uncover mechanisms underlying tumor progression, immune modulation, and therapy resistance.
Dr. Hafiza has significant expertise in EV isolation and characterization, immune-stromal co-culture systems, proteotranscriptomics, flow cytometry, and computational biology. Her research has contributed to understanding exosome-mediated tumor-immune crosstalk, metabolic reprogramming, and microenvironmental adaptation in cancer.
She is a recipient of prestigious national fellowships including the CSIR Junior and Senior Research Fellowships and has received multiple academic recognitions and institutional project grants. She has authored several peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals and actively contributes as a reviewer for Web of Science-indexed journals.
With strong interdisciplinary and translational research experience, Dr. Hafiza is committed to advancing precision oncology through biomarker discovery, innovative therapeutic strategies, and integration of clinical and experimental research to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Research Areas
Cell Communication in Cancer via Exosomes
Exosomes play a crucial role in mediating intercellular communication within the tumor microenvironment.
Our research focuses on how tumor-derived extracellular vesicles reprogram immune, stromal, and epithelial cells to promote cancer progression.
We investigate EV cargo and signaling pathways to understand mechanisms of metastasis, immune evasion, and therapy resistance.
Multi-Omics Approaches in Cancer
We utilize integrative multi-omics approaches including genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics to decode cancer complexity.
Our work combines clinical samples with computational biology to identify key regulatory networks driving tumor progression.
This systems-level understanding enables discovery of novel therapeutic targets and precision oncology strategies.
Immune Signaling in Tumor Microenvironment
The tumor microenvironment is a dynamic ecosystem where immune cells interact with cancer cells through complex signaling networks.
Our research explores immune modulation, cytokine signaling, and mechanisms of immune escape in cancer.
We aim to identify pathways that can be targeted to enhance anti-tumor immunity and improve immunotherapeutic outcomes.
Biomarker Identification via Liquid Biopsy
Liquid biopsy offers a minimally invasive approach for early cancer detection and monitoring.
We focus on identifying circulating biomarkers such as EV-associated nucleic acids and proteins from patient samples.
Our goal is to develop predictive and diagnostic biomarkers for personalized cancer management and treatment response monitoring.
ONGOING PROJECTS
Contact
I'm always looking for new scientific collaborations. Let's connect.
+919847087926