The Surendra Rajpurohit Lab

Surendra Rajpurohit, PhD, FAHA

Research Scientist
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Medical College of Georgia
Department of Biological Sciences
College of Science and Mathematics
Georgia Cancer Center

Jump to: Research Summary Impact on Georgia patients Research Focus Research Interests Publications

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The Rajpurohit Lab

Health Sciences Campus

GCC - M. Bert Storey Research Building

1410 Laney Walker Blvd, CN 3117

(706) 721-0277

srajpurohit@augusta.edu

Faculty Directory

Research Summary

Dr. Rajpurohit’s lab is working on Experimental Therapeutics in Glioblastoma Tumor Microenvironment, and Cardio-oncology using an in-multi modeling system, which includes: In-silico modeling system, in-vitro modeling system, in-vivo transparent transgenic zebrafish and mouse models, and high throughput (HT) drug discovery, repurposing of FDA-approved drugs, identification of novel hit and lead drugs, and drug validation and drug toxicity in glioblastoma and cardio-oncology therapeutics.

The laboratory studies the cancer drug induced cardio toxicity, Identification of the novel drug candidate to mimic cancer drug induced cardio vascular complications, mitochondria function, cell death process (role of annexin 5 and inflammatory activity of NF-kB) in the microglia-resident macrophages of the brain (normal and in glioblastomas) and cardiac myocytes (normal and inflamed) in transgenic zebrafish and mouse models.

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Impact on Patients in Georgia

Georgia’s state public health system and workforce is fundamental to the health and well-being of Georgians. Improving the health of all Georgians means placing an intentional focus on public health and prevention.

Cardiovascular disease is currently the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Unfortunately, a side effect of some cancer therapies is the development of cardiovascular disease. Cardio-oncology is a specialized field focused on preventing, monitoring, and treating cardiovascular disease caused by cancer therapies. It bridges cardiology and oncology to optimize patient health, allowing for effective cancer treatment with minimal, manageable heart damage. This is one area of our research. Precision cardio oncology medicine represents a transformative approach to healthcare, focusing on tailoring medical treatments and interventions to the unique characteristics of each patient, thus affecting the health of all Georgians.

In addition, Dr. Rajpurohit actively trains and mentors Augusta University undergraduates through the Center for Undergraduate Research & Scholarship (CURS), HONORS Thesis program, External Research Volunteers training Program, and other related mentoring programs. Training the biomedical workforce of the future is of utmost importance to the patients, citizens, and economy of the state of Georgia.

Research Focus

Dr. Rajpurohit ’s research is focused on:

Working on the Experimental Therapeutic in Glioblastoma and Cardio-oncology by using in-vivo transparent transgenic zebrafish and mouse models.

Developing and establishing in-vivo transparent transgenic cellular phenotype model of zebrafish to study the cell death process.

Repurposing of FDA-approved drugs.
Identification of novel hit and lead drugs.
Drug validation and drug toxicity in glioblastoma and cardio oncology therapeutics.

Research Interests

Graphic of zebrafishes with a toxic bottle with skull crossbones on it.

Validation & Toxicology Study of K21 Drug in Zebrafish Model

This project aims to evaluate the safety, developmental effects, and overall efficacy of a proposed drug using a zebrafish model. The study will follow a phased experimental design to assess impacts on developmental dynamics, growth, behavior, teratogenicity, and toxicity. Key goals include quantifying the drug’s effects across these parameters and determining its overall influence on zebrafish health. The findings are intended to establish measurable benchmarks for safety, biological impact, and support further development.

Graphic of mouse with scientific equipment to assist with The goal of this project is to design and implement experiments that involve the development and assessment of experimental therapeutics, using various animal model systems.

Experimental Therapeutics

The goal of this project is to design and implement experiments that involve the development and assessment of experimental therapeutics, using various animal model systems.

View Pure Research Profile

Publication
Evaluation of the Effects of the Quaternary Ammonium Silane K21 on Zebrafish Viability, Toxicity, Growth, and Development Rajpurohit, S. K., Manhiani, D. A. S., Ajith, A., Rajpurohit, P., Hotwani, S., Nasanally, S., Sreekumar, A., Bhat, K., Derhei, A. V., Pasi, R., Mishra, A., Kimmerling, K. & Carey, C. M., Jun 2025, In: Biomedicines. 13, 6, 1267. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Development of a Transparent Transgenic Zebrafish Cellular Phenotype Tg(6xNF-kB:EGFP); Casper(roy^−/−, nacre^−/−) to Study NF-kB Activity Rajpurohit, S. K., Ouellette, L., Sura, S., Appiah, C., O’Keefe, A., McCarthy, K., Kandepu, U., Ye Mon, M., Kimmerling, K., Arora, V. & Lokeshwar, B. L., Jul 2023, In: Biomedicines. 11, 7, 1985. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Development of a novel purification protocol to isolate and identify brain microglia Doughty, D., Rajpurohit, S. K., Trang, A., Alptekin, A., Korkaya, A. K., Achyut, B. R., Arbab, A. S. & Bradford, J. W., Aug 2022, In: Experimental Biology and Medicine. 247, 16, p. 1433-1446 14 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Development of tg(Uas:Sec‐hsa.anxa5‐yfp,myl7:Rfp); casper(roy^−/−,nacre^−/−) transparent transgenic in vivo zebrafish model to study the cardiomyocyte function Rajpurohit, S. K., Gopal, A., Ye Mon, M., Patel, N. G. & Arora, V., Aug 2021, In: Cells. 10, 8, 1963. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Metastatic neuroblastoma presenting as a submandibular mass with mandibular bone involvement in a three-year-old child Ullah, A., Doroodchi, A., Zarate, L. V., Mattox, S. N., Sliker, T., Willhite, D. K., Khan, J., Owen, H. C., Rajpurohit, S. K., Patel, N. G. & Hatley, R. M., Apr 2 2021, In: International journal of environmental research and public health. 18, 8, 4157. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
ARQiv-HTS, a versatile whole-organism screening platform enabling in vivo drug discovery at high-throughput rates Rajpurohit, S. K., Dec 1 2016, In: Nature Protocols. 11, 12, p. 2432-2453 22 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
First quantitative high-throughput screen in zebrafish identifies novel pathways for increasing pancreatic β-cell mass Wang, G., Rajpurohit, S. K., Delaspre, F., Walker, S. L., White, D. T., Ceasrine, A., Kuruvilla, R., Li, R.-J., Shim, J. S., Liu, J. O., Parsons, M. J. & Mumm, J. S., 2015, In: eLife. 4 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Bioimaging using the optimized nonlinear optical properties of ZnO nanoparticles Urban, B. E., Neogi, P., Senthilkumar, K., Rajpurohit, S. K., Jagadeeshwaran, P., Kim, S., Fujita, Y. & Neogi, A., 2012, In: Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of. 18, 4, p. 1451-1456 6 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Laser-induced thrombosis in zebrafish Jagadeeswaran, P., Carrillo, M., Radhakrishnan, U. P., Rajpurohit, S. K. & Kim, S., 2011, In: Methods in Cell Biology. 101, p. 197-203 7 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Proper migration of mammalian prostate stem cells to the area of the prostate gland in zebrafish Jagadeeswaran, P., Radhakrishnan, U. P., Kim, S., Rajpurohit, S. K., Xie, D. & Hsieh, J.-T., 2011, In: Cancer Research. 71, 8 Supplement, p. 4377-4377 1 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Zebrafish von Willebrand factor Carrillo, M., Kim, S., Rajpurohit, S. K., Kulkarni, V. & Jagadeeswaran, P., Dec 15 2010, In: Blood Cells, Molecules, and Diseases. 45, 4, p. 326-33 8 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Vivo-Morpholino knockdown of alphaIIb: A novel approach to inhibit thrombocyte function in adult zebrafish Kim, S., Radhakrishnan, U. P., Rajpurohit, S. K., Kulkarni, V. & Jagadeeswaran, P., Mar 15 2010, In: Blood Cells, Molecules, and Diseases. 44, 3, p. 169-74 6 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Modular, easy-to-assemble, low-cost zebrafish facility Kim, S., Carlson, R., Zafreen, L., Rajpurohit, S. K. & Jagadeeswaran, P., Sep 2009, In: Zebrafish. 6, 3, p. 269-74 6 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Effectiveness of potassium citrate therapy in the management of nephrolithiasis Rajpurohit, S. K., Pendse, A., Barjatiya, M. & Singh, P., 1996, In: Urolithiasis. p. 450 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
A study of recurrent stone formers with special reference to renal tubular acidosis Singh, P. P., Pendse, A. K., Ahmed, A., Ramavataram, D. V. & Rajpurohit, S. K., 1995, In: Urological Research. 23, 3, p. 201-3 3 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Complete distal renal tubular acidosis: Biochemical profile of a case Rajpurohit, S. K., Pendse, A., Ahmed, A. & Singh, P., 1992, In: Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry. 7, 2, p. 205-206 2 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Assessment of renal acidification capacity of stone formers by acid challenge test Ahmed, A., Pendse, A., Rajpurohit, S. K. & Singh, P., 1992, In: Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry. 7, 2, p. 171-178 8 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Research Team

Antara Chaudhary

Medical Scholar
(2025-2029)

Current Affiliation: MCG

Sreeja Sappati

Medical Scholar
(2026-2030)

Current Affiliation: MCG

Timothy Pham

Medical Scholar
(2026-2030)

Current Affiliation: MCG

Shristhi Desai

Undergraduate Honors Program Research
(2025-2028)

Keyana Williams

Undergraduate Honors Program Research
(2024-2027)

Sai Nasavally

Undergraduate Honors Program Research
(2023-2026)

Sreeja Sappati

CURS Students
(2024-2026)

Timothy Pham

CURS Students
(2024-2026)

Shrusthi Desai

CURS Students
(2025-2029)

Hemala Kupusmay

CURS Students
(2024-2028)

Research Team Alumni

Survarsha Sura

(2019-2021)

Anabelle O’keefe

(2019-2022)

Katherine McCartney

(2019-2022)

Rohan Kapuria

(2020-2021)

Chelsea Appiah

(2020-2023)

Aminah Wood

(2022-2023)

Kunal Hotwani

(2021-2023)

Raymond Chen

(2022-2023)

Vaani Balyan

(2022-2024)

Keshu Bhat

(2022-2024)

Aiden Van Derhei

(2022-2024)

Umasai Kandepu

May Ye Mon

Karen Aikhionbare

Logan Ouellette

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The Surendra Rajpurohit Lab

Surendra Rajpurohit, PhD, FAHA

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Research Summary

Impact on Patients in Georgia

Research Focus

Research Interests

View Pure Research Profile

Research Team

Research Team Alumni

Reduce the Burden