MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS & PRECISION MEDICINE

Biography

Dr. Pravin D. Potdar M.Sc., Ph.D., DMLT, DMS, DHE
I have been working in the field of   Cancer Research & Stem Cell Research for more than 30 years. During the Year 2005 to 2017, I have served as the Head & Chief of the Department of Molecular Medicine & Biology at Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai, India for 12 years. 

Besides this, I am the recipient of the prestigious National Institute of Health (NIH), USA award and also worked as a faculty scientist at World Topmost Cancer Centre “M.D. Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston, Texas, USA” for almost 3 years. Presently, I am a Faculty & Professor of Genetics and Stem Cell Biology at Dr. APJ. Abdul Kalam Education & Research Centre, Mumbai. India as well as holding the position of “Chairman” of the Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) of this Centre. I am also associated with several organizations as a Director & Consultant in the faculty of Cancer Genetics and Stem cell Biology. At Jaslok, I have established Molecular Diagnostics and Stem Cell Research laboratory and carried out various Research Programs in the field of cancer research, Stem Cell Research, Neurological & genetic disorders, infectious diseases, Diabetic Mellitus, etc. I have developed several innovative technologies which can help to diagnose and treat various cancers. 

I have also carried out extensive research work in the field of stem cell research and developed several mesenchymal and hematopoietic stem cell lines from various normal and tumor tissues. My laboratory became a reference laboratory for several doctoral & post-doctoral students who wish to learn better technology in these fields, all over India & abroad and also trained more than 1000 students all over India & abroad in this field of Molecular Medicine & Stem Cell Biology.  

I have published more than 95 papers in the field of Cancer Research and Stem Cell Research in well-known Medical Journals. I was honoured with the position of Secretary for the Scientific Advisory and Ethics Committees of Jaslok Hospital for 7 years. I was a Founder Member & Ex- Vice President of “The Molecular Pathology Association of India (MPAI) and the Institutional Ethics Committee at Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Educational & Research Centre, Mumbai. I have been appointed as an Editorial Board member & reviewer for many national and international journals. 

Due to excellent work in the field of Cancer & Stem Cells, my name is included in Marquis “Who's Who in World” Book in 2012. I was invited as a member of a delegation to visit Italian universities working in the field of Biotechnology, Cancer genomics, Stem Cell Research & Regenerative Medicine by Indo- the Italian Chamber of Commerce (IICC), Mumbai, India in 2015. I was also a review board member of the Welcome Trust DBT Alliance fellowship for Clinicians (Government of India) from 2014 – 2017. I was a Guest Editor for the "Journal of Cancer Metastasis & Treatment (JCMT)" and successfully published a 2 special issues on “Circulating Tumour Cells” in Cancer Diagnosis and Therapies and “Immunotherapy of Cancer” in 2017 & 2020 respectively. I also received the “Indy Wood Medical Excellence Award 2016” from the World Medical Council, Government of Telangana State, India in 2016. 

I was also a finalist for the BMJ Award South Asia 2016 for best research paper of the year 2016. This paper has been read by more than 65000 scientists all over the world since publication in 2015. In 2017, I was nominated for Edward Kennedy Memorial Award 2017 by the Malaysian Cancer Organization for excellence in research work in Cancer Diagnosis and Therapies. I am also the recipient of the very prestigious award “Renato Dulbecco’s Award 2020 at the 3rd World Cancer Congress held in Navi Mumbai, India 2020. It is my honour to be a Member of the Board of Studies in Biological Sciences & Regenerative Medicine at NMIMS University, Mumbai since July 2021. I am also on the Editorial Board of the Journal” Diseases and Research” since February 2022 and completed a special issue on “Tumor Microenvironment in Diagnosis and Therapies of Cancer “as a Guest Editor. 

This year I have been invited to join the Scientific Advisory Board of the International Cancer Diagnostic company “PredOmix”, in New Delhi, India. It is my honour to get a “Life Time Achievement Award” for my outstanding work in Cancer Research & Stem Cell Research by “The International conference for Award winners in Engineering Sciences & Medicine, in Pondicherry, India April 2022.