Cancers Treated:
Research Interests:
Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy Molecular Modeling-Based Target-Specific Photosensitizers Bi-Functional Tumor-Imaging (MRI, PET and Fluorescence) and Therapeutic Agents PDT and Nanotechnology Models for Photosynthetic Reaction Centers Cancer imaging (Fluorescence, Nuclear and Magnetic Resonance) and therapy (Photodynamic Therapy , Sonodynamic Therapy and combination therapy) Development of multifunctional agents for image-guided therapy of cancer Impact of various delivery vehicles, including nanoparticles in developing tumor targeted agentsAbout Ravindra Pandey
Biography:
After completing a PhD from the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, India in Medicinal Chemistry, Dr. Pandey worked as a postdoctoral fellow and research associate in the laboratories of Professor Kevin M. Smith (University of California, Davis, 1980-1983 and 1984-1986) and the late Professor A. H. Jackson (University College Cardiff, Wales, 1983-1984) on the chemistry and biochemistry aspects of porphyrin-based compounds. He joined Oncologic Foundation of Buffalo in 1986 and was involved in a photodynamic therapy project related to Photofrin® research funded by Johnson & Johnson. In 1990 he left the Foundation and joined the Photodynamic Therapy Center, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, where he is currently associated as Distinguished Professor and Director of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Cell Stress Biology. He also has an appointment as Professor with the Institute of Lasers, Photonics and Biophotonics, SUNY at Buffalo.
Dr. Pandey is a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines, Current Organic Chemistry and Current Organic Synthesis. He is a founding member of the International Society of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines. He has organized several national and international scientific symposiums and has delivered a large number of plenary and invited lectures all over the world on PDT and tumor imaging. He has received several awards including the Inventor of the Year Award (Niagara Frontier), the Rajiv Gandhi Award of Excellence, and “Who's Who in Science.” He has been a reviewer of research grants for various federal agencies (US, UK, Canada, Singapore, France) and private foundations. He has 30 patents to his credit and published over 200 research papers in various reputed international journals, as well as several review articles and book chapters. His research is well funded by national funding agencies and private organizations.
Dr. Pandey is also the founder of Photolitec, LLC, a biotech company. The goal of this organization is to develop cancer imaging and therapeutic agents and also to start clinical trials in developing countries.
Positions
- Emeritus Faculty
- Cell Stress Biology
State University of New York at Buffalo
- Research Professor
- Institute of Lasers, Photonics and Bio-photonics
Photolitec, LLC
- Founder and CSO
Background
Education and Training:
- 1976 - PhD - Medicinal Chemistry, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, India
Fellowship:
- 1984-1986 - Postdoctoral Fellow & Research Associate - University of California, Davis
- 1983-1984 - Postdoctoral Fellow & Research Associate - University College Cardiff, Wales
- 1980-1983 - Postdoctoral Fellow & Research Associate - University of California, Davis
Professional Memberships:
- Founding Member, International Society of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines
- American Chemical Society
- American Society of Photochemistry and Photobiology
- 2010-2012 - Advisory Board: Bioconjugate Chemistry
- Editorial Board: Nanomedicine, Biology and Chemistry
- Editorial Board: Journal of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines
Professional Experience:
- 1990-Present - Photodynamic Therapy Center, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
- 1986-1990 - Oncologic Foundation of Buffalo
Honors & Awards:
- 2021 - Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who's Who
- 2013 - China 1000 Talents Award
- 2011 - American Chemical Society, Regional Award
- 2010 - Excellence of PDT Award by Society of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines
- 1994. 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 2004, 2007, 2009 - Inventor of the Year Award, Niagara Frontier
- 2006 - Rajiv Gandhi Award of Excellence
Research
Research Overview:
Dr. Pandey has been working on the synthesis of porphyrin-based compounds for the last 38 years and investigating their application for use in PDT for the last 33 years. His group was responsible for characterizing the active components of Photofrin®, which also played an important role in its worldwide approval for use in photodynamic therapy. His current research interests are focused on developing “multifunctional agents,” nanoparticles for tumor imaging (PET, MRI, fluorescence)/PDT to develop models for photosynthetic reaction centers and to explore the chemistry of porphyrin-based compounds related to chlorins and bacteriochlorins. Most of the photosensitizers and tumor imaging agents developed in his group are derived from naturally occurring chlorophyll-a and bacteriochlorophyll-a. One of his compounds (HPPH) is currently in Phase II human clinical trials and several more are in various stages of preclinical and toxicological studies.
The technology developed in my laboratory was licensed to:
* Light Sciences
* HODO Group, China
* HISUN Pharma, China
* Sphaera Pharma, India
* Photolitec, LLC, USA
Publications
Cacaccio J, Durrani FA, Kumar I, Dukh M, Camacho S, Fayazi Z, Sumlin A, Kauffman E, Guru K and Pandey RK. Excitation of a single compound by light and ultrasound enhanced the long-term cure of mice bearing prostate tumors. Int. J. Mol. Sci, 2023, 24, 10624.
- Cheruku RR, Turowski SG, Durrani FA, Tabaczynski WA, Cacaccio JC, Missert JR, Curtin L, Sexton S, Alberico R, Hendler CM, Spernyak JA, Grossman Z and Pandey RK. Tumor-avid HPPH-3Gd(III) DOTA conjugate defines primary tumors and metastases. J. Med. Chem., 2022, 65, 9267-9280.
- Cacaccio JC, Durrani FA, Missert JR and Pandey RK. Photodynamic therapy in combination with doxorubicin is superior to monotherapy for the treatment of lung cancer. Biomedicines 2022, 10, 857
- Saenz C, Ethirajan M, Tracy EC, Bowman M-J, Cacaccio J, Ohulchanskyy T, Baumann H and Pandey RK. J. Photochem. Photobiol, B: Biology, 2022, 227, 112375.
- Cheruku RR, Cacaccio J, Durrani FA, Tabaczynski WA, Watson R, Siters K, Missert JR, Tracy CE, Dukh M, Guru K, Koya RC, Kalinski P, Baumann H and Pandey RK. Synthesis, tumor specificity, and photosensitizing efficacy of erlotinib-conjugated chlorins and bacteriochlorins identification of a highly effective candidate for photodynamic therapy of cancer. J. Med. Chem. 2021, 64, 741-767.
- Borah B, Cacaccio J, Durrani GA, Bshara W, Turowski SG, Spernyak JA and Pandey RK. Sonodynamic therapy in combination with photodynamic therapy shows enhanced long-term cure of brain cancer. Nature Scientific Reports, 2020, 20, 21791.
- Srivatsan S, Pera P, Loshi P, Marko AJ, Durrani F, Missert JR, Curtin L, Sexton S, Yao R and Sajjad M. Highlights on the imaging (nuclear/fluorescence) and phototherapeutic potential of a trifunctional chlorophyll-a analog with no significant toxicity in mice and rats. J. Photochem. Photobiol, B: Biology, 2020, 211, 111998.
- Borah BM, Cacaccio J, Watson R, Pandey RK Photo-triggered release of tumor-imaging and therapy agents from lyophilized multifunctional polyacrylamide nanoparticles. ACS Appl. Bio Mater 2019, 2, 5668-5675.
- Cheruku RR. Cacaccio J, Durrani FA, Tabaczynski WA, Watson R, Marko A, Kumar R, El-Khouly ME, Fukuzumi S, Missert JR, Yao R, Sajjad M, Chandra D, Guru K and Pandey RK. J. Med. Chem. 2019, 62, 2598-2617.
- Patel N, Pera P, Joshi P, Dukh M, Tabaczynski WA, Siters KE, Kryman M, Cheruku RR, Durrani F, Missert JR, Watson R, Ohulchanskyy TY, Tracy EC, Baumann H and Pandey RK. J. Med Chem. 2016, 59, 9774-9787.
- Pandey RK, Kessel D and Dougherty TJ (Editors), Handbook of Photodynamic therapy. Updates on recent applications of porphyrin-based compounds. World Scientific, , New Jersey, 2016