Shashidharamurthy Taval, PhD | PCOM Georgia Faculty
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SHASHIDHARAMURTHY TAVAL, PHD
Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Shashidharamurthy Taval, PhD
678-407-7373

Affiliations

Adjunct Faculty at Department of Pathology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA. USA.

Dr. Shashidharamurthy's initial interest in teaching started during his training towards obtaining a PhD degree. Upon entering the PhD program, the most influential of his mentors were those who successfully achieved a career by combining teaching with research. As a graduate student, Dr. Shashidharamurthy learned to appreciate the aspects of teaching and research that an academic career could provide. In addition to teaching, he has also been involved in mentoring and supervising many work-study students, research assistants and postdoctoral fellows.

Education

  • Instructor, Emory University, Atlanta, GA - USA, 2009-2011
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Emory University, Atlanta, GA - USA, 2004-2009
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN - USA, 2001-2004
  • PhD, Department of Biochemistry, University of Mysore, India, 1998-2004
  • MS, Department of Biochemistry, University of Mysore, India, 1994-1996
  • BS, University of Mysore, India, 1991-1994

Courses

  • PHAR 119G Antony and Pathophysiology-I
  • PHAR 119G Antony and Pathophysiology-II
  • PHAR 224G Immunology and Microbiology (coordinator)
  • PHAR 150G Biochemistry with clinical correlations
  • PHAR 242G Integrated Infectious Diseases II (coordinator)
  • PHAR 217G Principles of Drug Action
  • PHAR 217G Integrated Case Studies-I

Research

One of the major focuses of Dr. Taval’s research is to delineate the molecular mechanisms of lipocalin-2 (Lcn2) in various autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, such as arthritis and lupus. This research aims to develop novel therapeutic approaches. Preliminary data suggest that Lcn2 knockout mice are defective in producing anti-inflammatory cytokines and T regulatory cell expansion during arthritis, indicating that Lcn2 is a host-protective factor against systemic autoimmune disease.

In addition to this project, our laboratory is focused on drug discovery and development for various infectious diseases, including SARS-CoV-2. We have developed new drugs to treat COVID-19, with pre-clinical studies planned for newly developed small molecular-weight molecules. Furthermore, our lab is developing an inhaled formulation to deliver drugs directly to the airways, where most respiratory viruses colonize. Studies are also being conducted to identify plant-derived natural products that have the potential to reduce the infectivity and spread of the COVID-19 virus by targeting the replicative enzymes required for the propagation of SARS-CoV-2.

Patents and Inventions

Inventors: Shashidharamurthy Taval, Vicky Mody, Srujana Rayalam 
Title: Composition and methods for inhibiting severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus-2 (SARS-COV-2). International Patent Application No. PCT/US2023/011690

Grants

Active

Role: Principal Investigator                           
Funding Agency: PCOM 
Title: Identification and Development of small molecular weight molecules to target SARS-CoV-2 proteases.
Goal: The goal of this project is to identify the FDA approved drugs and to develop the novel molecules to target SARS-CoV-2 proteases. Duration: 04/01/2020-07/31/2024

Role: Co-Principal Investigator                           
Funding Agency: Aurinia, Pharmaceuticals Inc 
Goal: Comparing the Effects of Voclosporin, Cyclosporin A and Tacrolimus on
Calcineurin Isoform Activity and Mediators of Fibrosis in Kidney Cells In Vitro and In Vivo.
Duration: 09/01/2021-08/31/2023

Completed

Role: Consultant                                                   
Funding Agency: NIAID, NIH (SBIR) 
Title: Developing informatics tools to make immunology research data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable
Goal: The goal of this project is to develop natural language processing and ontology based methods and tools to extract and normalize the metadata of immunology datasets in order to improve their discoverability by general and specific search engines. Duration: 08/01/2018-07/31/2021

Role: Principal Investigator                           
Funding Agency: PCOM 
Title: Role of lipocalin2 (Lcn2) during the inflammatory condition.
Goal: The goal of this project is to investigate role of Lcn2 during the progression of chronic inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and obesity. 
Duration: 08/01/2020-07/31/2021

Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: NIAID, NIH (RO3) 
Title: Anti-osteogenic functions of lipocalin2 during autoinflammatory arthritis
Goal: The goal of this project is to investigate the molecular mechanism of Lcn2 mediated anti-inflammatory and osteoclastoenic functions using genetically manipulated Lcn2 knockout (Lcn2KO) and their wild type (WT) during autoinflammatory arthritis.
Duration: 07/10/2017-07/09/2020 with no-cost extension

Role: Principal Investigator
Award type: Scientist Development Grant Program
Funding source: American Heart Association
Title: Blocking of immune-complex mediated vasculitis using recombinant Fc receptors. 
Duration: 1/1/2011-12/31/2015

Role: Principal Investigator
Award type: Internal funding
Funding Agency: (Chief Scientific officer) CSO-funding
Title: Synergistic effect of immune-complex and TLR ligand during immune-complex mediated disorders. 
Duration: 12/1/2012-12/31/2013

Role: Principal Investigator
Award type: Internal funding
Funding Agency: CSO-funding for MS-Thesis 
Title: Attenuation of antibody- mediated inflammation by prostaglandin E2 receptor antagonists during autoimmune arthritis. 
Duration: 08/1/2012-08/31/2014

Role: Principal Investigator                           
Funding Agency: PCOM 
Title: Role of lipocalin2 (Lcn2) during the progression of obesity.
Goal: The goal of this project is to investigate whether recombinant Lcn2 upregulates the beigeing and thermogenic markers in mouse adipocyte cell line (3T2L1).
Duration: 08/1/2017 - 08/31/2018

Role: Principal Investigator                           
Funding Agency: PCOM 
Title: Role of Myo/Nog cells during autoimmune arthritis condition
Goal: The goal of this project is to investigate the pro- or anti-inflammatory effect of Myo/Nog cells during autoimmune arthritis condition using in vitro cell culture and in vivo mouse model
Duration: 08/1/2017 - 08/31/2018

Awards

  • AAI Laboratory Travel Award from American Association of Immunology, 2024
  • AAI Laboratory Travel Award from American Association of Immunology, 2019
  • AAI Laboratory Travel Award from American Association of Immunology, 2018
  • Early Career Faculty Travel Award from American Association of Immunology, 2017
  • Bio-Techne IMMUNOLOGY 2015 Travel Grant Award, 2015
  • Early Career Faculty Travel Award from American Association of Immunology, 2015
  • Early Career Faculty Travel Award from American Association of Immunology, 2014
  • Early Career Faculty Travel Award from American Association of Immunology, 2013
  • American Association of Immunologist Trainee Awards, 2011 (two awards for two different presentations)
  • Scientist Development grant program Award from America Heart Association, 2011
  • Postdoctoral fellowship from the University of Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN, USA, 2001
  • Postdoctoral fellowship from Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA, 2004
  • Senior Research Fellowship from the University of Mysore, KN, India, 1999
  • Junior Research Fellowship from the University of Mysore, KN, India, 1997

Memberships

  • American Association of Immunologist. 2005- present
  • American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP). 2012- present
  • American Association for the Advancement of Science. 2005-2010

Editorial Service

  • Editorial board member:
    • Journal of Arthritis and Rheumatism – 2016 to present
    • Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology – 2022 to present
  • Ad-hoc peer reviewer:
    • Biochimie, 2004 to present
    • Comparative Biochemistry and physiology, 2004 to present
    • Planta Medica, 2006 to present
    • Nutrition Journal, 2007 to present
    • Current Medicinal Chemistry, 2008 to present
    • Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology, 2008 to present
    • Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 2009 to present
    • Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2010 to present
    • European Journal of Cancer, 2013 to present
    • Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis, 2013 to present
    • PloS One, 2015 to present
    • Scientific Reports, 2016 to present
    • Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol, 2019 to present
    • Journal of Medical Virology – 2023 to present

Grant Review Study Section Member

  • Active committee member on American Heart Association Grant review committee under Vascular Endothelial Biology and Function - Basic Science and Immunology and Virology - Basic Science study sections.
  • Review Panel Member on Department of Defense - Autoimmune Disease Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).
  • Scottish Government Health Directorates - Translational Clinical Studies Research Committee
    New Investigator Award (NIA) Reviewer for the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP)

Invited Speaker at National/International Conferences

  • Invited Speaker: BioLabs-Tech Transfer Showcase conference “Advancing Anti-Viral Drug Discovery for the Treatment of COVID-19” Philadelphia, P.A. Feb 13th, 2024.
  • Invited Speaker: Online presentation at POMA. “COVID-19: From virus to vaccine”. Philadelphia, P.A. May 1st 2021.
    Title: Pharmacological Approaches to Inhibition of Viral Spread.
  • Invited speaker: International Multidisciplinary Online Conference on "Recent Advancement in Varied Fields". Mandya, Karnataka, India. Feb 6-12, 2021
    Title: Drug Repositioning: Therapeutic Approaches to Target COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak
  • Invited speaker: Online presentation at PCOM. “COVID-19: From virus to vaccine”. Philadelphia, P.A. Jan 21st 2021.
    Title: Pharmacological Approaches to Inhibition of Viral Spread.
  • Invited Speaker: International webinar on “Current Trends in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CTCPS-2021). Sagar, M.P, India. Jan 20-22, 2021
    Title: Role of lipocalin-2 during chronic inflammatory disorders.
  • Invited speaker:  International webinar on “Immunity in today’s world”. Mysore, Karnataka, India. Sept 10th-12th 2020.
    Title: COVID-19: Therapeutic drug repurposing.
  • Invited Speaker: Cell Science and Pharmacology 2017, Atlanta, GA, USA, Nov 28-29, 2017. 
    Topic: Prostaglandin E2 receptor (EP2): A novel target to attenuate inflammation and bone erosion during autoimmune arthritis.
  • Invited Speaker: Innate Immunity and Immunotherapy conference, Atlanta, GA, USA, Nov 2-3, 2017. Lipocalin2, an innate immune protein, deficiency pre-dispose mice to pro-inflammatory condition.
  • Invited Speaker: University of Mysore, Department of Biotechnology, KA, India
    Topic: Host protective function of Lipocalin-2, an innate immune protein, during autoinflammatory disorders. Feb 29, 2016.
  • Invited Speaker: Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore, India, May 2014
    Topic: Functional role of lipocalin2 during auto-inflammatory disorders. May, 2014
  • Renowned speaker and Chairing the sessions (Track:3 Therapy and advances in dermatology, Track 4: Diagnostic techniques in dermatology Track 5: Allergy and Therapy) at 4th international conference on Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. San Antonio, Texas, USA. April 14-16, 2014.
    Topic: Role of Lipocalin2 during immune-complex mediated inflammatory disorders
  • Invited Speaker: PCOM Biomedical Sciences for Research Seminar series
    a) “Role of Fcgamma receptors and complement during immune-complex mediated disorders” February 6, 2012. PCOM, GA-Campus
    b) “Role of Lipocalin 2 during immune-complex mediated inflammation” April 28, 2014. PCOM, GA-Campus
  • Invited Speaker: PCOM monthly seminar series sponsored by Centre for Chronic Disorders of Aging:
    Topic: “Lipocalin2, an innate immune protein during immune-complex mediated inflammatory disorders” November 4, 2013. PCOM-GA-Campus
  • Invited Speaker: University of Mysore, Department of Biochemistry, KA, India
    Topic: Differential role of Lipocalin-2 during immune-complex mediated autoimmune disorders. May 12, 2012.
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