Malathy Shanmugam, PhD, MS

Dr. Shanmugam attended Madurai Kamaraj University in T. Nadu, India where she earned a MS in Biotechnology. She received her PhD in Tumor Cell Biology from Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, IL. She completed her fellowship training at Northwestern University Medical School and at Loyola University of Chicago Medical Center.

Dr. Shanmugam's research focus includes investigating mechanisms underlying abnormal glucose utilization and the impact of enhanced glucose utilization on cell survival and proliferation in the hematologic malignancies multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The long-term objectives of her research are to 1) improve the understanding of the molecular and cellular basis of enhanced glucose utilization in myeloma and other glycolytic cancers; 2) elucidate molecular mechanisms contributing to apoptosis sensitivity following GLUT4 inhibition in multiple myeloma; and 3) demonstrate the feasibility and therapeutic promise of targeting GLUT4 in myeloma by employing in vivo disease models and generation of selective GLUT4 inhibitors.

Dr. Shanmugam has earned the following awards and honors:

• MilliPub Club, Emory University School of Medicine, 2015
• Best Abstract Platform Presentation, "Nucleosides, Nucleotides, & Oligonucleotides", Gordon Research Conference, Rhode Island, July 2009
• Postdoctoral NRSA Fellowship: NIH Training Grant-T32 A107508, Experimental Immunology, 2001-2004
• Gramm Travel Fellowship Award, Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University Medical School, 1997
• Northwestern University Representative, Dept. of Defense Breast Cancer Research Meeting, Washington, DC, 1997