Dr. Ekta Khattar

Associate Professor
Specialization: Telomere Biology, Cancer
Ph.D , M.Sc (Microbiology), B.Sc (Microbiology)

Areas of Specialisation

Telomere Biology, Cancer

Academic Experience: 5+ years

* 5 years Post-Doctoral research in Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, Singapore.
* 9+ months as a DBT-Ramalingaswami Fellow at National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai, India.

Education

Mar 2012 - Mar 2017: Post-Doctoral Fellow Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*Star, Singapore.
Sep 2005 - Oct 2010: Ph.D International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology India.
Jul 2003 - June 2005: M.Sc (Microbiology) University of Delhi South Campus, India.
Jul 2000 - June 2003: B.Sc (Microbiology) Gargi College, University of Delhi, India.

Publications

Khattar E, Kumar P, Liu CY, Akıncılar SA, Maury JJP, Li S, Tan EY, Hui KM, Shi M, Loh YH, Tergaonkar V. Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promotes cancer cell proliferation by augmenting tRNA expression. Journal of Clinical Investigation 2016 Oct 3;126(10):4045-4060. Impact factor 2015: 12.575
Koh CM*, Khattar E*, Leow SC, Liu CY, Muller J, Ang WX, Li Y, Franzoso G, Li S, Guccione E, Tergaonkar V. Telomerase regulates MYC-driven oncogenesis independent of its reverse transcriptase activity. Journal of Clinical Investigation 2015 May;125(5):2109-22. (Note: * Equal contribution). Impact factor 2015: 12.575
Akıncılar SC, Khattar E, Boon PLS, Unal B, Fullwood MJ, Tergaonkar V. Long-range chromatin interactions drive mutant Tert promoter activation. Cancer Discovery 2016 Nov;6(11):1276-1291 Impact Factor 2015: 19.453
Toh CX, Chan JW, Chong ZS, Wang HF, Guo HC, Satapathy S, Ma D, Goh GY, Khattar E, Yang L, Tergaonkar V, Chang YT, Collins JJ, Daley GQ, Wee KB13, Farran CA, Li H, Lim YP, Bard FA, Loh YH. RNAi reveals phase-specific global regulators of human somatic cell reprogramming. Cell Reports 2016 Jun 21;15(12):2597-607. Impact factor 2015: 7.870
Ghosh A, Saginc G, Leow SC, Khattar E, Shin EM, Yan TD, Wong M, Zhang Z, Li G, Sung WK, Zhou J, Chng WJ, Li S, Liu E, Tergaonkar V. Telomerase directly regulates NF-κB-dependent transcription. Nature Cell Biology 2012 Dec; 14(12):1270-81. Impact factor 2015: 18.699
Khattar E, Mukherji A, Kumar V. Akt phosphorylates HBx at Serine 31 and augments its oncogenic potential. FEBS Journal 2012 Apr; 279 (7):1220-30. Impact factor 2015: 4.237
Khattar E, Kumar V. Mitogenic regulation of p27Kip1 gene is mediated by AP1 transcription factors. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2010 Feb 12; 285 (7):4554. Impact factor 2015: 4.573

Book Chapter and Review

Khattar E*, Tergaonkar V. The role of telomeres and telomere-associated proteins as components of interactome in cell-signaling pathways. Book "Telomeres”, 2016, ISBN 978-953-51-4609-4. Book chapter. (Note: *Corresponding author).
Khattar E, * Tergaonkar V. Transcriptional Regulation of Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT) by MYC. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 26 January 2017. Impact Factor 2015: 3.19 (Note: *Corresponding author).

Ongoing Research projects:

Non-canonical functions of Telomerase in ovarian cancer (2017-Present).
Role of telomeric proteins in cancer initiation and progression.

Awards and Honors:

Awarded Ramalingaswami fellowship 2015-2016: Awarded by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India.
Senior Research Fellowship: Sep 2007-Sep 2010: Awarded by Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Govt. of India.
Junior Research Fellowship: Sep 2005-Sep 2007: Awarded by Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Govt. of India.
Qualified for NET (National Eligibility Test) and Junior Research Fellowship jointly conducted by CSIR, Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India, in June 2004 and selected for Shyama Prasad Mukherji Award.
Awarded Gold Medal for obtaining first rank in M.Sc. in Delhi University, 2005.
Awarded Gold Medal for obtaining first rank in B.Sc. in Delhi University, 2003.
Monsanto Post Graduate Scholarship by Monsanto India Pvt. Ltd: 2003-05: during post-graduation at University of Delhi South Campus.

Official Email Id

ekta.khattar@nmims.edu

Official Phone No.

022-42332247