Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION

• August 1999 – June 2005.
  PhD from Roswell Park Graduate Division of SUNY, Buffalo, in Molecular and Cellular Biophysics program under Department of Cancer Biology with interaction with Dept of Pharmacology & Therapeutics. Awarded full scholarship and fellowship by Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Title of thesis: NON-INVASIVE IN VIVO ASSESSMENT OF TUMOR HYPOXIA USING FUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE (fMR) IMAGING DURING THERAPY IN HUMAN HEAD AND NECK SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA (HNSCC) XENOGRAFTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR ASSESSING THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY.

• October 2002.
  Completion of three years study in classical homeopathy with scholarship from the International Academy of Classical Homeopathy, New York. This is a homeopathy course under George Vithoulkas – the winner of 1996 Right Livelihood award (alternate noble prize) for his contribution to the revival of classical homeopathy.

• December 1997
  Masters degree in Psychology (MA) from Annamalai University, India.

• March 1997
  Postgraduate diploma in Guidance and Counseling (PGDGC) from Annamalai University, India

• Dec 1996
  Diploma in Homeopathic Pharmacy (DHPh) from British Institute of Homeopathy, UK.

• August 1994
  Completion of Doctorate of Homeopathic Medicine (HMD) from British institute of Homeopathy, UK.

• May 1994
  Completion of Proficiency certificate in Acupuncture from Chinese Academy of Science.

• March 1992
  Diploma in Acupuncture from Open International University of Complementary Medicine, Sri Lanka.

• October 1992
  Diploma in homoepathy (DIHom) from British Institute of Homeopathy, UK.

• 1985
  MS in Biophysics from Cancer Research Institute under University of Bombay

• 1983
  BS in Microbiology from University of Bombay.

OTHER EDUCATION

• December 1988
  Diploma in Management Studies (DMS) from University of Bombay, India.

• March 1993
  Baccalaureate in law (LLB) from University of Bombay.

• January 1991
  Diploma in Export Import Management from Indian Merchants Chambers, Bombay, India.

CAREER IN HEALTH SCIENCES

• June 2008 – till date.
  Associate Member, Graduate Faculty of the University at Buffalo, Department of Natural Sciences.

• January 15 2009 – till date
  Affiliate Member in the Department of Cancer Prevention and Control, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY. Current research involves investigating anticancer properties of natural products such as broccoli, horse radish, wasabi, mustard and selenium in preclinical cancer models including head & neck, lung, colorectal and bladder cancer.

• September 19, 2005 – January 14 2009
  Postdoctoral training in Translational Pharmacology and Physiology under tutelage of Dr Youcef M Rustum, Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Cancer Biology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY. Research involved understanding effect of organoselenium compounds on tumor microenvironment including neoangiogenesis, tumor vessel maturation using various non invasive MR and optical techniques to assess the tumor microenvironment over time and treatment. In vivo xenografts of human lung, colorectal and head/neck cancer models are used along with in vitro tube formation assays for studying angiogenesis.

• September 2, 2004 till August 31 2004
  Research Technologist, Department of Cancer Biology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA.

• April 2002 onwards

  1. Homeopathy teacher, tutor, mentor and seminar speaker in North America.

  2. Homeopathic Tutor for British Institute of Homoepathy, Canada and USA.

  3. Since October 2004, adjunct faculty with Akamai University for homeopathic education.

  4. Homeopath practitioner in North America.

• July 1992 till august 1999
  Director, coordinator – Centre for Homeopathic Cure, India. Responsibilities included overseeing activities of homeopathic medical doctors at the Centre, teaching intern homeopathic medical doctors, organizing seminars, homeopathic practice, managing finances coordinating different staff and functions.

• April 1996 till March 1997
  Managing Editor – Health Newsletter, India.

• 1995
  Visiting Professor at the Open International University of Complementary Medicine, Sri Lanka teaching homeopathy.

CAREER – OTHERS

• July 1989 till August 1999
  Director – Alpha Trade Links, India. Consultants to Himedia Laboratories P Ltd., Ceekay Daikin Ltd. and other corporations on international trade related matters.

• June1996 till March 1999
  Faculty member – Institute of Management and Professional Studies, Mulund, Bombay, India. Taught International marketing to graduate students.

• January 1999 till March 1999
  Visiting Faculty – Melange Institute of Management, India. Taught International marketing to graduate students.

• May 1988 till July 1989
  Manager – Exports & Imports. Intec Polymers Ltd., Bombay, India

• May 1987 till May 1988
  Purchase Executive, Intec Polymers Ltd., Bombay, India

• June 1985 till September 1986
  Project Executive, Thomas Baker Pvt. Ltd., Bombay, India.

GRANTS AND AWARDS

1. National Institute of Health 2 year R21 award effective May 1st 2009 (CA133682-01A2) ‘Dietary Supplement Selenium and HIF-1 alpha Regulation in Cancer’.

2. American Institute for Cancer Research postdoctoral grant for 2 years effective July 1st. 2006

3. American Association for Cancer Research instituted AACR-AFLAC Scholar-in-Training Award for 2006;

4. International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Award for annual meeting, 2006;

5. Scholarship from Roswell Park Cancer Institute to attend 7th. International Summer School of Biophysics, Croatia, 2000;

6. Fellowship with scholarship at Roswell Park Cancer Institute & SUNY, Buffalo, NY for PhD studies;

PATENT 1

#20080019919 – Method for optimizing cancer therapy by monitoring maturation of tumor associated vasculature by selenium. Rustum Y M, Bhattacharya A, Tóth K, Slocum H.K., Azrak R. G, Chintala S., Seshadri, M and Mazurchuk, R.

OTHER AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

1. Doctorate of Science (DSc) – Honoris-Causa by Open International University of Complementary Medicine for services in homeopathy;

2. Recipient of College Merit Scholarship twice at Baccalaureate level;

3. Fellow of the International Laser therapy Association;

4. Fellow of the British Institute of Homeopathy;

5. Fellow member of United Writers’ Association, India;

6. Fellow of the Homeopathic Foundation, Sri Lanka;

7. Fellow of the Acupuncture Foundation of Sri Lanka;

8. HD (Homeopathic Doctor) by HMCC and NUPATH, Canada;

9. SUNY at Buffalo Graduate Student Association Distinguished Service Recognitions as a Finance Commissioner for 2001-2.

MEMBERSHIPS

1. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR);

2. International Society For Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM);

3. American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM);

4. Homeopathic Medical Council of Canada (HMCC);

5. National United Professional Association of Trained Homeopaths (NUPATH), Canada;

6. Associate member of the Institute of Company Secretary of India;

7. International German Homoeopathic Society;

8. Commonwealth Institute of Acupuncture & Natural Medicine;

9. Member of the Acupuncture Foundation of SriLanka;

10. Ex-member of Bombay Management Association;

11. Ex-associate member of the International Federation of Practitioners of Natural Therapeutics, UK.

PUBLICATIONS

• Rustum Y M, Tóth K, Seshadri M, Sen A, Durrani FA, Stott E, Morrison C D, Cao S, Bhattacharya A. Architectural heterogeneity in tumors caused by differentiation alters intratumoral drug distribution and affects therapeutic synergy of antiangiogenic organoselenium compound. Journal on Oncology. Accepted – Article Link
  
• Bhattacharya A, Tang L, Li Y, Geng F, Paonessa J, Chen S C, Wong M, Zhang Y. Inhibition of bladder cancer by allyl isothiocyanate. Carcinogenesis 2009; doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgp303 – Article Link
• Bhattacharya A, Tang L, Li Y, Geng F, Paonessa J, Chen S C, Wong M, Zhang Y. Bladder cancer inhibition by allyl isothiocyanate. Proc. Am. Assoc. Cancer Res., Frontiers in Cancer prevention Research, 2009.
• Bhattacharya A, Tóth K, Sen A, Seshadri M, Cao S, Durrani FA, Faber E, Repasky E, Rustum Y M. Inhibition of colon cancer growth by methylselenocysteine – induced angiogenic chemomodulation is influenced by histological characteristics of the tumor. Clinical Colorectal Cancer 8(3), 155-162, 2009 – Article Link
• Bhattacharya A. A model of health and disease in homeopathy. The American Homeopath 14, 138-142, 2008.
• Bhattacharya A, Tóth K, Durrani FA, Cao S, Slocum HK, Chintala S, Rustum Y M. Hypoxia Specific Drug Tirapazamine Does Not Abrogate Hypoxic Tumor Cells in Combination Therapy with Irinotecan and Methylselenocysteine in Well-Differentiated Human Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma A253 Xenografts. Neoplasia 10 (8), 857-865, 2008 – Article Link
• Bhattacharya A, Seshadri M, Oven S D, Tóth K, Vaughan M, Rustum Y.M. Tumor vascular maturation and improved drug delivery by organoselenium compound methylselenocysteine. Clinical Cancer Research 14(12), 3926-3932, 2008. – Article Link
• Cao S, Durrani FA, Bhattacharya A, Yu Y, Rustum YM. Enhanced irinotecan toxicity in UDPGT deficient rats: Role of UDPGT1A in irinotecan detoxification. Proc. Am. Assoc. Cancer Res., 2008.
• Bhattacharya A, Tóth K, Cao S, Azrak R. G, Durrani F A, Rustum Y M. 5-Methylselenocysteine (MSC) causes tumor vessel maturation leading to synergistic antitumor effect in human xenografts. Proc. Am. Institute for Cancer Res., 2007.
• Seshadri M, Bhattacharya A, Tóth K, Rustum Y M. Contrast-enhanced MRI of the vascular response of human tumor xenografts to the chemopreventive agent selenium in vivo: Implications for combination therapy. Proc. Am. Assoc. Cancer Res., 2007.
• Bhattacharya A, Tóth K, Cao S, Azrak R. G, Durrani F A, Rustum Y M. Se-(Methyl)selenocysteine causes tumor vessel maturation leading to synergistic antitumor effect in human xenografts. The Journal of Nutrition, 137(1S), 278S, 2007.
• Seshadri M, Mazurchuk R, Spernyak J A, Bhattacharya A, Rustum Y M, Bellnier D A. Activity of the vascular disrupting agent 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid (DMXAA) against human head and neck carcinoma xenografts. Neoplasia, 8(7), 534-542, 2006 – Article Link
• Bhattacharya A, Mazurchuk R, Spernyak J. A, Tóth K, Magnano, C.R, Cao S, Azrak R. G, Durrani F A, Rustum Y M. Tumor vessel maturation by 5-Methylselenocysteine (MSC) results in synergistic antitumor effect in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) xenografts. Proc. Am. Assoc. Cancer Res., 2006.
• Bhattacharya A, Mazurchuk R, Spernyak J. A, Cao S, Durrani F A, Rustum Y M. Serial spin echo based BOLD fMR imaging can predict chemotherapy response in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) xenografts. Proc. International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 2006.
• Seshadri M, Mazurchuk R, Spernyak J. A, Bhattacharya A, Rustum Y M, Bellnier, D.A. Tumor response of human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) xenografts to the vascular targeting agent 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid (DMXAA). Proc. Am. Assoc. Cancer Res., 2006
• Cao S, Bhattacharya A, Durrani F A, Fakih M. Irinotecan, oxaliplatin and raltitrexed for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer (Review Article). Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy, 7, 687-703, 2006 – Article Link
• Yin M-B, Li Z-R, Tóth K, Cao S, Durrani F A, Hapke G, Bhattacharya A, Azrak R G, Frank C, Rustum Y M. Potentiation of irinotecan sensitivity by Se-methylselenocysteine in an in vivo tumor model is associated with downregulation of cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase and hypoxia-inducible factor 1a expression, resulting in reduced angiogenesis. Oncogene, 25, 2509-2519, 2006. – Article Link
• Bhattacharya A, Tóth K, Mazurchuk R, Spernyak J A, Slocum H K,  Pendyala L, Azrak R, Cao S, Durrani F A, Rustum Y M,: Lack of microvessels in well differentiated regions of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) A253 is associated with fMR imaging detectable hypoxia, limited drug delivery and resistance to irinotecan therapy. Clinical Cancer Res, 10, 8005 – 8017, 2004. – Article link

• Bhattacharya A, Tóth K, Azrak R, Pendyala L, Spernyak J, Cao S, Durrani F A, Mazurchuk R, Slocum H K, Rustum Y M. Resistance to irinotecan is associated with lack of microvessels, hypoxia and limited drug delivery in the well differentiated parts of human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) A253. Proc. Am. Assoc. Cancer Res. 45, 2004.

• Cao S, Durrani F A, Moser M T, Bhattacharya A, Foster B A, Rustum Y M. Se-(Methyl)Selenocysteine (MSC) potentiates the antitumor activity of Taxotere against Prostate Cancer inTramp model. Proc. Am. Assoc. Cancer Res, 45, 2004.

• Bhattacharya A, Azrak R, Toth K, Cao S, Durrani F, Pendyala L, Mazurchuk R, Rustum Y M – Tumor hypoxia and differentiation status are markers associated with response to irinotecan (FU therapy) of xenografts bearing squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) tumors. Proc. Am. Assoc. Cancer Res. 44, 2003.

• Bhattacharya A – The enigma of coffee restriction in homeopathic treatment. Asian Homeopathic Journal, 6(4), 33-36, 1996.

• Bhattacharya A – Dietary effect on criminal behaviour. Health Newsletter, 15, 4, 1996.

• Bhattacharya A – A new model of health and diseases. Health Newsletter, 1996.

• Bhattacharya A – Alleviating Anxiety neuroses nutritionally. Health Newsletter, 1996.

• Bhattacharya A – Garlic – the health Panacea. Health Newsletter, 1996.

• Bhattacharya A – Understanding minerals. Health Newsletter. 1996 & 1997.

MENTORING

M.S – Thesis Committee and advisor for Steven Oven (‘Tumor vascular maturation by Se-(Methyl)-Selenocysteine in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) xenografts’, March 2007).

Summer Students – Mentor for Summer Students Science Program for high school and college students at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY.

Homeopathy – Mentor for students and practitioners at various levels of education and training.

SYMPOSIA – INVITED SPEAKER/REVIEWER

1. ISMRM – ESMRM 2007 joint annual meeting scientific abstract reviewer;

2. Reviewer for scientific journal such as Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, Clinical Cancer Research, Cancer Research, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, and, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

3. Canadian Institute of Health Research – External reviewer since 2008.