Sadhan Majumder, Ph.D.
Department of Genetics, Division of Discovery Science
About Dr. Sadhan Majumder
Dr. Majumder completed his predoctoral schooling at Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics in India and received his Ph.D. from New York University. He subsequently completed his postdoctoral training at Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and at Roche Institute of Molecular Biology. He joined The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in 1995 as an Assistant Professor and was promoted to his current position as Professor in 2006. His current research involves deciphering the mechanisms that control normal brain functions and how aberrations in these mechanisms causes diseased states such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Dr. Majumder has a strong interest in teaching. In addition to leading a lab with undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral and clinical fellows, he teaches at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and organizes a biennial course at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories on Brain Tumors. Dr. Majumder has received many awards including M. D. Anderson Fort Worth Living Legend Faculty Achievement Award, National Brain Tumor Society Chaiken Chair of Research Award, and B*CURED Research Award.
View a complete list of Dr. Majumder's publications.Visit Dr. Majumder's Lab website!
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Deputy Chair, Department of Genetics, Division of Discovery Science, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Professor (Joint appointment), Department of Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Professor, Department of Genetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Professor, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Professor, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX
Professor, Department of Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Professor, Department of Genetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Research Interests
The research in my laboratory is focused on (1) deciphering the mechanisms that control normal development and how aberrations of such mechanisms produce diseases, and (2) investigating how such knowledge can be translated into improved patient care. We begin by studying molecular mechanisms and then build on the lessons learned from those studies using a multi-disciplinary approach that encompasses genomics, bioinformatics, biochemistry, cell biology and mouse genetics. Our work involves close collaboration between basic scientists and clinicians.
One of the first projects in my laboratory focused on advancing understanding of the childhood brain tumor medulloblastoma (MB) as a foundation for patient-specific therapeutic approaches. In the course of our early work, we discovered that the transcriptional repressor REST has a new function in that it maintains self-renewal and blocks differentiation of normal neural stem cells. REST is aberrantly overexpressed in a subclass of MB tumors, and a unique role of REST in these MB tumors is to block differentiation and maintain stemness of the cerebellar stem/progenitor cells. This work was exciting because others and we suggested that REST inhibitors could be utilized to block MB.
Our work then evolved into an investigation of the mechanisms of stemness in neural stem cells, muscle progenitor cells, embryonic stem cells and glioblastoma stem cells. Based on our understanding of these mechanisms, in one line of work, we converted muscle progenitor cells into functional neurons, with a single recombinant molecule we designed based on REST function (REST-VP16), before the iPS system was published. Genome-wide analyses indicated that REST-VP16 shifted global muscle-specific to neuron-specific transcriptome signature in these engineered neurons. Another line of work resolved some of the contradictions in the literature and showed that the REST-mediated regulation of ES cell pluripotency through a microRNA-mediated pathway depends on the cell-type (not all ES lines are the same) as well as the culture conditions, indicating how various factors form part of an interconnected genome-wide network.
In a third line of work, we discovered that REST regulates glioblastoma (GBM) stem cell (GSC) tumorigenicity by maintaining self-renewal and invasion. Importantly, high levels of REST characterize a class of human GBM patient tumors (HR-GBM). Various labs, including ours, by now have suggested that REST is a potential therapeutic target for stratified HR GBM tumors. Our recent genome-wide chromatin and transcriptome filtering analyses followed by biochemical and biological validations indicated that REST performs its functions in GSCs through a microRNA signature pathway (miR-124, a known REST target, and miR-203, a new target). Parallel to this discovery, we used unbiased genome-wide analyses and discovered a new mechanism (miR-21-Sox2 regulatory axis)-based GBM patient classification with implications for precision medicine. We are currently studying specific innovations in chemotherapy suggested by the REST-miR-124/203 mechanism using exosome-mediated delivery of miRs in HR-stratified mouse tumors. Although REST regulates many genes, many of its biological functions still remain undiscovered. Overexpression (OE) of REST is found in many brain tumors, in ischemic insults, and in neurological diseases and behavioral disorders. However, progress in these areas has been hampered by the continuing absence of a conditional REST OE mouse model. We have now created the first conditional REST OE knockin mouse line enabling study of the role of REST OE in vivo. Our published results confirm that REST expression in these mice is physiologically relevant. Genome-wide analyses followed by quantitative ChIP assays and behavioral assays indicated that REST regulates spontaneous locomotion by repressing a new target, Dopamine Receptor 2.
In a fourth line of work using REST OE mice, we collaborated with Dr. Hui-Lin Pan’s lab to study the role of REST in chronic pain. We are currently studying the central hypothesis that REST in DRG neurons is involved in regulating opioid analgesia in chronic neuropathic pain and in opioid-induced hyperalgesia /analgesic tolerance by governing the opioid receptor expression through epigenomic regulation of these genes. Thus, manipulation of REST in DRG neurons could be utilized to increase opioid analgesic efficacy and reduce opioid consumption.
View a complete list of Dr. Majumder's publications.
Visit Dr. Majumder's Lab website.
https://mdanderson.elsevierpure.com/en/persons/sadhan-majumder
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1985 | New York University, New York, New York, US, Microbiology, Ph.D |
Postgraduate Training
| 1992-1995 | Institute Fellow, Roche Institute of Molecular Biology, Hoffmann La-Roche, Nutley, New Jersey |
| 1988-1992 | Research Associate, Enhancer Function in Mice, Roche Institute of Molecular Biology, Nutley, New Jersey |
| 1985-1988 | Exxon Postdoctoral Fellow, Protein Kinases, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Deputy Chair, Department of Genetics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2014 - 2022
Associate Professor, Department of Genetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2000 - 2006
Associate Professor, Department of Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2000 - 2006
Associate Professor, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, 2000 - 2006
Assistant Professor, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, 1995 - 2000
Assistant Professor, Department of Genetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1995 - 2000
Assistant Professor, Department of Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1995 - 2000
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Director, MDACC-Genes and Development Graduate Program, Houston, TX, 2013 - 2015
Co-Director, MDACC-Genes and Development Graduate Program, Houston, TX, 2012 - 2013
Graduate, MDACC-Sponsored Faculty Leadership Academy, Houston, TX, 2003 - 2004
Chief, Department of Section of Experimental Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1999 - 2000
Other Professional Positions
Scientific Advisor, Signase Corporation (Biotech Company), Houston, TX, 2000 - 2003
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Committee Member, MDA Integrity, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025
Council Member, MDA Academic Mentoring, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025 - Present
Board Member, MDA PRS Retirement, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025 - Present
Grant Reviewer, Brain Tumor Center SPORE grants, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2024
Member, Cancer Neuroscience Program reviewer, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2024
Member, Internal Advisory Board, Committee, Brain Tumor Center SPORE grant, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023 - Present
Grant Reviewer, MDAnderson Institutional Research Grant Reviewer, Basic Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - 2024
Member, Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2022
Member, Faculty Senate, MDACC, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2021
Faculty Panelist, Women Faculty Programs and Faculty and Academic Career Enhancement, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2014
Member, Promotion and Tenure Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2012 - 2015
Member, Faculty Senate on behalf of Department of Genetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2011 - 2014
Member, Faculty Senate Research Affairs Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2011 - Present
Faculty Recruitment Committees, Departments of Neuro-oncology and Neurosurgery, MDACC, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2011 - 2012
Video Profile, MDACC - Youtube Transformer Video Profile (on Education), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2010
Faculty Panelist, MDACC Cultural Sensitivity Discussion Group, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2010
Member, MDACC Faculty Achievement Award Selection Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2009 - Present
Faculty Panelist, MDACC Faculty Mentoring Meeting, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2009
Member, Steering Committee for MDACC - St. Luke's International Hospital - Tokyo, Japan and Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2008 - 2017
Research Navigator, Research Navigator for Junior Faculty, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2008 - Present
Member, MDACC India Steering Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2008 - 2013
Member, American Cancer Society-MDACC Institutional Research Grant Review, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2008 - 2011
Member, Multidisciplinary Research Advisory Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2007 - 2010
Member, Faculty Mentoring Advisory Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2007 - 2011
Vice Chair, Research Laboratory Space Subcommittee of the Research Council, MDACC, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2007 - 2010
Member, Advisory Board, Scientific Publications, MDACC, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2006 - Present
Member, Research Laboratory Space Subcommittee of the Research Council, MDACC, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2005 - 2007
Co-organizer, Genes and Development (Molecular Genetics, Cancer Genetics, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology departments) Retreat, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2005
Member, Organizing Committee for the 2006 MDACC Symposium on Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2005 - 2006
Chair, American Brain Tumor Association/MDACC Committee on The First Course on Molecular Mechanisms in Brain Tumors, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2005
Member, MDACC Institutional Research Grants Program Study Section Review Committee for Basic Research Projects, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2004 - 2007
Chair, American Brain Tumor Association/MDACC Committee on The Second Course on Molecular Mechanisms in Brain Tumors, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2004
Organizer, Brain Tumor Center Basic Science Retreat, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2004
Chair, MDACC Brain Tumor Center Laboratory Research Subcommittee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2003 - 2005
Co-organizer, Brain Tumor Center Basic Science Retreat, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2002 - 2003
Member, MDACC Small Animal Cancer Research Imaging Facility User's Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2002 - Present
Chair, Faculty Recruitment Committee, Department of Neuro-oncology, MDACC, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2002 - 2003
Chair, GSBS Graduate Students Admissions Review Committee for areas: Genes and Development, Cancer Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Human and Molecular Genetics, Cell and Regulatory Biology, and Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2001 - 2004
Co-Chair, MDACC Brain Tumor Center Laboratory Research Subcommittee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2001 - 2003
Member, Genes and Development graduate students recruitment committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2001 - 2005
Member, MDACC Brain Tumor Center Executive Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2001 - 2007
Member, MDACC Faculty Senate Research Affairs Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1999 - 2005
Member, MDACC Division of Medicine Executive Council Research Sub-Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1999 - 2000
Member, MDACC Faculty Senate, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1998 - 2001
Founding Member, MDACC Brain Tumor Center Steering Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1998 - 1999
Chair or Member, Faculty Recruitment Committees (various departments at MDACC including Genetics, Neuro-Oncology and Neurosurgery), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1995 - Present
Editorial Activities
Editorial Board Member, Scientific Reports, 2019 - Present
Book Editor, Stem Cells and Cancer, 2009
Editorial Board Member, Neuro-oncology, 2006 - 2017
Honors & Awards
| 2016 | Toastmaster Communication and Leadership Award (from the general community) |
| 2010 | Elected Fellow of the Indian Society of Agricultural Biochemists |
| 2009 | National Brain Tumor Society Chaiken Chair of Research |
| 2008 | MDACC Fort Worth Living Legend Faculty Achievement Award in Basic Research, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2001 | Katie's Kids for the Cure Award |
| 2000 | Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation of the United States Award |
| 1985 - 1987 | Exxon Postdoctoral Fellowship |
| 1979 - 1985 | Public Health Research Institute predoctoral research fellowship |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2016. Toastmaster Communication and Leadership Meeting. Conference. . Houston, TX, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2008. Brain Tumor Society Annual Meeting. Conference. Brain Tumor Society. Boston, MA, US.
- 2001. Invited speaker at the fund raising event for Katie's Kids. Conference. The National Fund for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Research, US.
- 1998. Invited speaker at the fundraising gathering for "Rides for Kids". Conference. Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation of the US, US.
National Presentations
- 2025. Conference on Brain Tumors, US.
- 2024. Organizer and Speaker, "Brain Tumors" Course, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2022, 2024). Invited. Organizer and Speaker, "Brain Tumors" Course, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2022, 2024), US.
- 2022. EMBL/EMBO Conference: Transcription and chromatin. Invited. EMBL/EMBO Conference: Transcription and chromatin.
- 2009. Society for Neuro-Oncology Conference. Invited. Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Asheville, NC, US.
- 2009. National Brain Tumor Society Annual Meeting. Invited. National Brain Tumor Society. Arlington, VA, US.
- 2008. "Therapeutic Potential of REST-mediated Mechanisms in Disease". Invited. Texas Life Science Conference. Houston, TX, US.
- 2008. "Stemness in only a state of the cell" 73rd CSHL Symposium on Quantitative Biology. Invited. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories, US.
- 2006. Session Co-Chair and Speaker, Cancer Research-Stem Cells in Cancer and Regenerative Medicine. Invited. 59th MDACC Annual Symposium on Cancer Research-Stem Cells in Cancer and Regenerative Medicine. Houston, TX, US.
- 2006. "Stemness" in only a state of the cell" Diagnosis and Therapeutic Discovery in Neuro-Oncology Symposium. Invited. Baylor College of Medicine. Houston, TX, US.
- 2004. Special Symposium on Stem Cells and Brain Tumors. Invited. AANS Symposium. San Francisco, US.
- 2003. Meet the Expert session on Stem Cell Biology. Invited. Society for Neuro-Oncology seventh annual Meeting. Keystone, US.
- 2002. Meet the Expert session on Stem Cell Biology. Invited. Society for Neuro-Oncology sixth annual Meeting. San Diego, US.
- 2000. Brain Tumor. Invited. Cold Spring Harbor Meeting on Cancer Genetics, US.
- 1999. Transcription. Invited. Cold Spring Harbor Meeting on Transcription, US.
- 1999. Transcription. Invited. FEBS Meeting on Transcription. Nice, US.
- 1996. Transcription. Invited. EMBL Meeting on Transcription. Heidelberg, US.
International Presentations
- 2024. Advanced Chronic Pain Course, US.
- 2019. EMBO Conference on Molecular Neuroscience: From genes to circuits in health and disease. Invited. National Centre for Biological Sciences. Bangalore, IN.
- 2017. Gordon Conference on Neurobiology. Invited. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, HK.
- 2016. International Conference on Neuro-Oncology and Brain Tumors. Invited. International Conference on Neuro-Oncology and Brain Tumors. Brisbane, AU.
- 2015. Gordon Conference on Modulation of Neural Circuits and Behavior. Invited. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, HK.
- 2014. EMBO Conference on Brain Development and Disorders. Invited. EMBO Conference on Brain Development and Disorders. La Ciotat, FR.
- 2014. Gordon Conference on Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology. Invited. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, HK.
- 2014. Session-Chair, Fifth International Conference on Translational Cancer Research. Invited. Session-Chair, Fifth International Conference on Translational Cancer Research. New Delhi, IN.
- 2013. Session-Chair, International Conference on Stem Cells and Cancer. Invited. Session-Chair, International Conference on Stem Cells and Cancer, US.
- 2012. Session-Chair and Speaker, International Conference on Stem Cells and Cancer. Invited. Session-Chair and Speaker, International Conference on Stem Cells and Cancer. New Delhi, IN.
- 2012. Speaker, Second International Neural Regeneration Symposium. Invited. Speaker, Second International Neural Regeneration Symposium. Shenyang, CN.
- 2012. Speaker, Session-Chair, 19th Annual Brain Tumor Research and Therapy Conference. Invited. Speaker, Session-Chair, 19th Annual Brain Tumor Research and Therapy Conference. Niagara Falls, CA.
- 2011. Session Chair, Fourth International Conference on Translational Cancer Research/MDACC. Invited. Session Chair, Fourth International Conference on Translational Cancer Research/MDACC. Udaipur, IN.
- 2010. Speaker, European Association of Neuro-Oncology. Invited. European Association of Neuro-Oncology. Maastricht, NL.
- 2010. Speaker, International Conference on the Role of Metabolic Regulation and Biomolecules. Invited. Speaker, International Conference on the Role of Metabolic Regulation and Biomolecules. Varanasi, IN.
- 2009. Role of cancer-initiating cells in brain tumors. Invited. 7th International Cancer Conference African Organization of Research and Training in Cancer. Dar ES Salaam, TZ.
- 2009. World Cancer Conference. Invited. Speaker, World Cancer Conference. Beijing, CN.
- 2008. "REST-mediated regulation of normal development and Disease". Invited. International Symposium on Novel Strategies for Targeted Prevention and Treatment of Cancer. New Delhi, IN.
- 2008. "Role of REST in stem cells". Invited. European Bio-marker Summit. Lisbon, PT.
- 2007. Abnormal REST and MYC expression in normal stem cells cause medulloblastoma. Invited. 6th International Cancer Conference AORTIC. Cape Town.
- 2007. REST-mediated regulation in human medulloblastomas. Invited. 14th European Cancer Conference. Barcelona, ES.
- 2006. Role of REST in Neural Stem Cells and Tumors. Invited. 7th Congress of the European Association for Neurooncology. Vienna.
- 2006. The Forefront of Advances in Adult Stem Cells and Cancer Research. Invited. 3rd International Symposium on The Forefront of Advances in Adult Stem Cells and Cancer Research. Seoul, KR.
- 2005. Stem Cells, Senescence, and Cancer. Invited. Keystone Symposium on Stem Cells, Senescence, and Cancer, SG.
- 2004. Meet the Expert. Invited. Tumor Section Meeting of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies. Jaipur, IN.
- 2003. Signal Transduction Modulators in Cancer Therapy. Invited. 2nd International Symposium on Signal Transduction Modulators in Cancer Therapy. Amsterdam, US.
- 2002. Speaker. Invited. International Congress on Head and Neck Cancer. Rio de Janeiro, BR.
- 2001. Session on Cancer Genetics. Invited. Neurological Society of India. Mumbai, IN.
- 2001. Speaker. Invited. First Quadrennial Meeting of the World Federation of Neuro-Oncology and Society for Neuro-Oncology Sixth Annual Meeting. Washington, US.
- 2001. Speaker. Invited. International NPY Conference. Sydney, AU.
- 2000. Molecular Biology of Brain Tumor. Invited. European Neurological Society Meeting, IL.
- 1999. Molecular Biology of Brain Tumor session. Invited. The 13th International Conference on Brain Tumor Research and Therapy, JP.
- 1998. DNA Replication, and Protein Phosphorylation. Invited. Conference on Transcription. Crete, GR.
Formal Peers
- 2020. Department of Human Genetics. Invited. Houston, US.
- 2018. Speaker. Invited. Houston, TX, US.
- 2016. Speaker. Invited. New York, NY, US.
- 2016. Speaker. Invited. Houston, TX, US.
- 2014. Speaker. Invited, OH, US.
- 2014. Speaker. Invited. Kyoto, JP.
- 2014. iPS and Stem Cells in Cancer Research Symposium. Invited. Kyoto, JP.
- 2013. ACTREC. Invited. Mumbai, IN.
- 2013. Anatomy and Neurobiology. Invited, VA, US.
- 2013. Speaker. Invited. Memphis, TN, US.
- 2013. Speaker. Invited. Warsaw, PL.
- 2013. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Invited, LA, US.
- 2012. Speaker. Invited, US.
- 2012. Novel Mechanism - based therapeutic approaches to glioblastoma. Invited. Lausanne, CH.
- 2012. Brain Tumor Center Retreat. Invited, US.
- 2011. Biochemistry. Invited. Varanasi, IN.
- 2011. Translational Research in Cancer. Invited. Kolkata, IN.
- 2011. Brain Tumor. Invited. New York, NY, US.
- 2011. Program of Pediatric Stem Cell Biology. Invited. Aurora, CO, US.
- 2010. Brain Tumor Center. Invited. Toronto, CA.
- 2010. Cell Biology. Invited. Toronto, CA.
- 2010. Pathology. Invited, IN.
- 2009. Oncological Sciences. Invited. New York, NY, US.
- 2009. Molecular Medicine. Invited. Houston, TX, US.
- 2009. Stem Cell Research. Invited. Los Angeles, CA, US.
- 2008. Department of Biochemistry. Invited. Varanasi, IN.
- 2008. Department of Molecular Biology. Invited. Dallas, TX, US.
- 2006. Department of Neurosciences. Invited. Philadelphia, PA, US.
- 2006. Pathology. Invited. Seoul.
- 2005. Developmental and Stem Cell Program. Invited. San Francisco, US.
- 2005. Children's Research Institute. Invited. Washington, DC, US.
- 2005. UT-Houston Medical School. Invited, US.
- 2005. Children’s Cancer Research Institute. Invited. San Antonio, US.
- 2004. Department of Neurology. Invited, US.
- 2004. Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics. Invited. Kolkata, IN.
- 2003. Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Invited. New York, US.
- 2003. Huffington Center on Aging. Invited. Houston, TX, US.
- 2002. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Invited, BR.
- 2001. Banaras Hindu University. Invited, IN.
- 2001. New York University Medical Center. Invited, US.
- 2000. National Cancer Institute. Invited, US.
- 2000. George Washington University Medical Center. Invited. Washington, US.
- 2000. National Institute on Aging. Invited, US.
- 2000. Monsanto. Invited. St. Louis, US.
- 1999. Wistar Institute. Invited. Philadelphia, US.
- 1999. VC University. Invited. Richmond, VA, US.
- 1997. University of New Jersey. Invited, US.
- 1997. New York University Medical Center. Invited, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2024 - 2026 |
| Title: | Development of murine glioblastoma model for oncolytic HSV therapy |
| Funding Source: | NIH NS128191 |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2023 - 2025 |
| Title: | CD44 signaling in regulating glioblastoma stemness and immune response |
| Funding Source: | NIH NS130429 |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2020 - 2025 |
| Title: | New Therapeutic Approaches for Stratified High-REST GBM Subtype |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NINDS |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | R01 NS119162 |
| Date: | 2020 - 2027 |
| Title: | REST-mediated regulation of opioid receptors in chronic pain mouse models |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NIDA |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | R61 DA049334 |
| Date: | 2019 - 2024 |
| Title: | REST-mediated epigenomic and transcriptomic signatures in neuropathic pain |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | R01 NS112280 |
| Date: | 2017 - 2019 |
| Title: | Host Age Impacts Specific GBM Subtype |
| Funding Source: | B*CURED Grant |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2012 - 2016 |
| Title: | Implications of a Novel Glioblastoma Classification Defined by miR-21-Sox2 Status |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | R01 NS081684 |
| Date: | 2012 - 2013 |
| Title: | Role of miR-21-Sox2 Axis in Glioblastoma |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Project Leader |
| ID: | P50 CA127001 |
| Date: | 2011 - 2012 |
| Title: | A Novel Mechanism Based Therapeutic Approach for Glioblastoma |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Project Leader |
| ID: | 5P50CA 127001-04 |
| Date: | 2008 - 2010 |
| Title: | Novel Mechanism of Glioblastoma Tumorigenesis and Therapy |
| Funding Source: | Brain Tumor Society Grant |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2007 - 2011 |
| Title: | Role of stem-like cells in glioblastoma tumorigenesis |
| Funding Source: | MDACC Multidisciplinary Research Program |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2005 - 2008 |
| Title: | New mechanisms of and mouse models for medulloblastoma |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | R01 CA97124-04S1 (Supplementary grant to CA97124) |
| Date: | 2002 - 2004 |
| Title: | Role of REST/NRSF as a direct therapeutic target for medulloblastoma |
| Funding Source: | Goodwin Fund |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2002 - 2015 |
| Title: | REST/NRSF-mediated medulloblastoma tumorigenesis |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | R01 CA097124 (Includes Renewal) |
| Date: | 1999 - 2013 |
| Title: | Transcription factor REST/NRSF in Medulloblastoma |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | R01 CA81255 (Includes Renewal) |
| Date: | 1996 - 2002 |
| Title: | Mechanism of enhancer function in mouse embryos/oocytes |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | R01 GM53454 |
| Title: | Therapeutic approaches for neural regulator REST-dependent GBM subtype (Resubmission) |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | R01 NS110569 |
| Title: | Discovery and validation of REST as a novel target for chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | 1R01CA299172 |
| Title: | Contribution of neurogenesis regulator REST in cerebellar stem/progenitor cells to nervous system tumors |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | NIH R01NS113779 |
| Title: | REST-mediated regulation of opioid receptors in chronic pain mouse models (R61/R33 grant) |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | NIH R61DA049334 |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Subedi, A, Etemad, A, Tiwari, A, Huang, Y, Chatterjee, B, McLeod, SM, Lu, Y, Gonzalez, DA, Ghosh, K, Sirito, M, Singh, S, Ruiz, E, Grimm, SL, Coarfa, C, Pan, H, Majumder, S. Nerve injury inhibits Oprd1 and Cnr1 transcription through REST in primary sensory neurons. Scientific reports 14(1), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39496614.
- Marisetty A, Lu L, Veo B, Liu B, Coarfa C, Kamal M, Kassem D, Irshad K, Lu Y, Gumin J, Henry V, Paulucci-Holthauzen A, Rao G, Lang F, Fuller F, Majumder S. REST-DRD2 mechanism impacts glioblastoma stem cell-mediated tumorigenesis. Neuro-Oncology 21(16):775-785, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30953587.
- Lu L, Marisetty A, Liu B, Kamal MM, Gumin J, Veo B, Cai Y, Kassem D, Weng C, Maynard M, Hood K, Fuller G, Pan Z, Cykowski MD, Dash P, Majumder S. REST overexpression in mice causes deficits in spontaneous locomotion. Sci Rep 8(1):12083, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30108242.
- Marisetty AL, Singh SK, Nguyen TN, Coarfa C, Liu B, Majumder S. REST represses miR-124 and miR-203 to regulate distinct oncogenic properties of glioblastoma stem cells. Neuro Oncol 19(4):514-523, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28040710.
- Alvarado AG, Turaga SM, Sathyan P, Mulkearns-Hubert EE, Otvos B, Silver DJ, Hale JS, Flavahan WA, Zinn PO, Sinyuk M, Li M, Guda MR, Velpula KK, Tsung AJ, Nakano I, Vogelbaum MA, Majumder S, Rich JN, Lathia JD. Coordination of self-renewal in glioblastoma by integration of adhesion and microRNA signaling. Neuro Oncol 18(5):656-66, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26374689.
- Sathyan P, Zinn PO, Marisetty AL, Liu B, Kamal MM, Singh SK, Bady P, Lu L, Wani KM, Veo BL, Gumin J, Kassem DH, Robinson F, Weng C, Baladandayuthapani V, Suki D, Colman H, Bhat KP, Sulman EP, Aldape K, Colen RR, Verhaak RG, Lu Z, Fuller GN, Huang S, Lang FF, Sawaya R, Hegi M, Majumder S. Mir-21-Sox2 Axis Delineates Glioblastoma Subtypes with Prognostic Impact. J Neurosci 35(45):15097-112, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26558781.
- Alvarado AG, Turaga SM, Sathyan P, Mulkearns-Hubert EE, Otvos B, Silver DJ, Hale JS, Flavahan WA, Zinn PO, Sinyuk M, Li M, Guda MR, Velpula KK, Tsung AJ, Nakano I, Vogelbaum MA, Majumder S, Rich JN, Lathia JD. Coordination of self-renewal in glioblastoma by integration of adhesion and microRNA signaling. Neuro Oncol. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26374689.
- Singh SK, Marisetty A, Sathyan P, Kagalwala M, Zhao Z, Majumder S. REST-miR-21-SOX2 axis maintains pluripotency in E14Tg2a.4 embryonic stem cells. Stem Cell Res 15(2):305-311. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26209818.
- Xue J, Chen Y, Wu Y, Wang Z, Zhou A, Zhang S, Lin K, Aldape K, Majumder S, Lu Z, Huang S. Tumour suppressor TRIM33 targets nuclear β-catenin degradation. Nat Commun 6:6156, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25639486.
- Jiang Y, Wang Y, Wang T, Hawke DH, Zheng Y, Li X, Zhou Q, Majumder S, Bi E, Liu DX, Huang S, Lu Z. PKM2 phosphorylates MLC2 and regulates cytokinesis of tumour cells. Nat Commun 5:5566, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25412762.
- Kamal MM, Sathyan P, Singh SK, Zinn PO, Marisetty AL, Liang S, Gumin J, El-Mesallamy HO, Suki D, Colman H, Fuller GN, Lang FF, Majumder S. REST regulates oncogenic properties of glioblastoma stem cells. Stem Cells 30(3):405-14. doi:10.1002/stem.1020, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22228704.
- Singh SK, Veo BL, Kagalwala MN, Shi W, Liang S, Majumder S. Dynamic status of REST in the mouse ESC pluripotency network. PLoS One 7(8):e43659. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0043659, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22952733.
- Zinn PO, Sathyan P, Mahajan B, Bruyere J, Hegi M, Majumder S, Colen RR. A Novel Volume-Age-KPS (VAK) Glioblastoma Classification Identifies a Prognostic Cognate microRNA-gene Signature. PLoS One 7(8):e41522. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0041522, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22870228.
- Zinn PO, Majadan B, Sathyan P, Singh SK, Majumder S, Jolesz FA, and Colen RR. Radiogenomic mapping of edema/cellular invasion MRI-phenotypes in glioblastoma multiforme. PLoS One 6(10):e25451, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21998659.
- Gopalakrishnan V, Sinnappah-Kang N, Adams H, Fuller G, Pan ZZ, and Majumder S. Myoblast-derived neuronal cells form glutamatergic neurons in the mouse cerebellum. Stem Cells 28:1839-1847, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20799335.
- Kagalwala M, Singh S, Majumder S. Stemness is only a state of the cell. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories Symposium on Quantitative Biology (on Stem Cells), 2009. e-Pub 2009.
- Singh S, Kagalwala M, Zhao Z, Majumder S. REST maintains self-renewal and pluripotency of embroyonic stem cells. Nature 453(7192):223-237, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 18362916.
- Su X, Gopalakrishnan V, Stearns D, Aldape K, Lang FF, Fuller G, Snyder E, Eberhart CG, Majumder S. Abnormal expression of REST/NRSF and Myc in neural stem/progenitor cells causes cerebellar tumors by blocking neuronal differentiation. Mol Cell Biol 26:1666-78, 2006. e-Pub 2006. PMID: 16478988.
- Fuller GN, Su X, Price RE, Cohen ZR, Lang FF, Sawaya R, Majumder S. Many human medulloblastoma tumors overexpress repressor element-1 silencing transcription (REST)/neuron-restrictive silencer factor, which can be functionally countered by REST-VP16. Mol Cancer Ther 4(3):343-9, 2005. e-Pub 2005. PMID: 15767543.
- Su X, Kameoka S, Lentz S, Majumder S. Activation of REST/NRSF target genes in neural stem cells is sufficient to cause neuronal differentiation. Mol Cell Biol 24(18):8018-25, 2004. e-Pub 2004. PMID: 15340064.
- Watanabe Y, Kameoka S, Gopalakrishnan V, Aldape KD, Pan ZZ, Lang FF, Majumder S. Conversion of myoblasts to physiologically active neuronal phenotype. Genes and Development 18(8):889-900, 2004. e-Pub 2004. PMID: 15078815.
- Rastelli L, Robinson K, Xu Y, Majumder S. Reconstitution of enhancer function in paternal pronuclei of one-cell mouse embryos. Mol Cell Biol 21(16):5531-40, 2001. e-Pub 2001. PMID: 11463835.
- Immaneni A, Lawinger P, Zhao Z, Lu W, Rastelli L, Morris JH, Majumder S. REST-VP16 activates multiple neuronal differentiation genes in human NT2 cells. Nucleic Acids Res 28(17):3403-10, 2000. e-Pub 2000. PMID: 10954611.
- Lawinger P, Venugopal R, Guo ZS, Immaneni A, Sengupta D, Lu W, Rastelli L, Marin Dias Carneiro A, Levin V, Fuller GN, Echelard Y, Majumder S. The neuronal repressor REST/NRSF is an essential regulator in medulloblastoma cells. Nature Medicine 6(7):826-31, 2000. e-Pub 2000. PMID: 10888935.
- Lawinger P, Rastelli L, Zhao Z, Majumder S. Lack of enhancer function in mammals is unique to oocytes and fertilized eggs. J Biol Chem 274(12):8002-11, 1999. e-Pub 1999. PMID: 10075699.
- Rastelli L, Majumder S. The role of chromatin in the establishment of enhancer function during early mouse development. Gene Therapy and Molecular Biology 3:455-64, 1999. e-Pub 1999.
- Chintala SK, Sawaya R, Aggarwal BB, Majumder S, Giri DK, Kyritsis AP, Gokaslan ZL, Rao JS. Induction of matrix metalloproteinase-9 requires a polymerized actin cytoskeleton in human malignant glioma cells. J Biol Chem 273(22):13545-51, 1998. e-Pub 1998. PMID: 9593690.
- Majumder S, Zhao Z, Kaneko K, DePamphilis ML. Developmental acquisition of enhancer function requires a unique coactivator activity. Embo J 16:1721-31, 1997. e-Pub 1997. PMID: 9130716.
- Fueyo J, Gomez-Manzano C, Yung WK, Zhang W, Lee PS, Majumder S, Perhouse M, Levin VA, Kyritsis AP. A frequent polymorphism in exon 1 of the p16/CDKN2 gene. Mol Cell Probes 9(6):465-6, 1995. e-Pub 1995. PMID: 8808318.
- Majumder S, DePamphilis ML. TATA-dependent enhancer stimulation of promoter activity in mice is developmentally acquired. Mol Cell Biol 14(6):4258-68, 1994. e-Pub 1994. PMID: 8196662.
- Perez JR, Li Y, Stein CA, Majumder S, van Oorschot A, Narayanan R. Sequence-independent induction of Sp1 transcription factor activity by phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 91(13):5957-61, 1994. e-Pub 1994. PMID: 8016096.
- Majumder S, Miranda M, DePamphilis ML. Analysis of gene expression in mouse preimplantation embryos demonstrates that the primary role of enhancers is to relieve repression of promoters. Embo J 12(3):1131-40, 1993. e-Pub 1993. PMID: 8458327.
- Miranda M, Majumder S, Wiekowski M, DePamphilis ML. Quantitative evaluation of promoter activity in mouse oocytes and preimplantation embryos. Meth. Enzymology 225:412-33, 1993. e-Pub 1993. PMID: 8231867.
- Majumder S, Ray P, Besmer P. Tyrosine protein kinase activity of the HZ4-feline sarcoma virus P80gag-kit-transforming protein. Oncogene Res 5:325-32, 1990. e-Pub 1990. PMID: 1697669.
- Nocka K, Majumder S, Chabot B, Ray P, Cervone M, Bernstein A, Besmer P. Expression of c-kit gene products in known cellular targets of W mutations in normal and W mutant mice--evidence for an impaired c-kit kinase in mutant mice. Genes and Development 3:816-26, 1989. e-Pub 1989. PMID: 2473008.
- Majumder S, Brown K, Qiu FH, Besmer P. c-kit protein : a transmembrane kinase - identification in tissues and characterization. Mol Cell Biol 8:4896-903, 1988. e-Pub 1988. PMID: 2463468.
- Majumder S, Novick RP. Intermediates in plasmid pT181 DNA replication. Nucleic Acids Res 16:2897-912, 1988. e-Pub 1988. PMID: 3368310.
- Manch-Citron JN, Gennaro ML, Majumder S, Novick RP. RepC is rate limiting for pT181 plasmid replication. Plasmid 16:108-15, 1986. e-Pub 1986. PMID: 3462754.
- Novick RP, Adler GK, Majumder S, Khan SA, Carleton S, Rosenblum WD, Iordanescu S. Coding sequence for the pT181 repC product: a plasmid-coded protein uniquely required for replication. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci 79:4108-12, 1982. e-Pub 1982. PMID: 6287465.
- Majumder S, Basu SR, Saha NN. Preparation and study of tissue-specific liposomes. Indian J. Biochem. Biophysics 15(2):82-89, 1978. e-Pub 1978.
Review Articles
- Majumder S. REST in good times and bad: roles in tumor suppressor and oncogenic activities. Cell Cycle 5:1929-35, 2006. e-Pub 2006. PMID: 16929174.
- Majumder S, DePamphilis ML. A unique role for enhancers is revealed during early mouse development. Bioessays 17(10):879-89, 1995. e-Pub 1995. PMID: 7487969.
- Nothias JY, Majumder S, Kaneko KJ, DePamphilis ML. Regulation of gene expression at the beginning of mammalian development. J Biol Chem 270(38):22077-80, 1995. e-Pub 1995. PMID: 7673179.
- Majumder S, DePamphilis ML. Requirements for DNA transcription and replication at the beginning of mouse development. J Cell Biochem 55(1):59-68, 1994. e-Pub 1994. PMID: 8083300.
- Bernstein A, Chabot B, Dubreuil P, Reith A, Nocka K, Majumder S, Ray P, Besmer P. The mouse W/c-kit locus. Molecular Control of Haemopoiesis 148:158-66, 1990. e-Pub 1990. PMID: 1690623.
Professional Educational Materials
- Majumder S. Mouse preimplantation embryos and oocytes as an in vivo system to study gene expression. Springer-Verlag, 1997.
Other Articles
- Lu, L, Marisetty, AL, Liu, B, Kamal, MM, Gumin, J, Veo, BL, Cai, Y, Kassem, DH, Weng, C, Maynard, ME, Hood, KN, Fuller, GN, Pan, ZZ, Cykowski, MD, Dash, PK, Majumder, S Author Correction. Scientific reports 12(1), 2022. PMID: 36526687.
Book Chapters
- Singh S, Kagalwala M, and Majumder S. MicroRNAs in stem cells and cancer stem cells. In: Springer-Verlag, 2009.
- Majumder S. Mouse preimplantation embryos and oocytes as an in vivo system to study gene expression. In: Microinjection and Transgenesis: Strategies and Protocols. Springer-Verlag, 323-349, 1997.
- Guo ZS, Wiekowski M, Majumder S, Miranda M, DePamphilis ML. Role of transcriptional elements in activating origins of replication. In: DNA Replication: The Regulatory Mechanisms. Springer-Verlag, 129-138, 1992.
Books (edited and written)
- Majumder S, Editor, Writer. Stem Cells and Cancer. Springer-Verlag, 2009.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified March 18, 2026