University Directory

Bela Peethambaran, PhD

Associate Professor

Bela Peethambaran PhD

Department

Office

Science Center
Room 107A

Phone

610-660-1936
Contact

Dr. Peethambaran's research integrates several disciplines such as molecular biology, cell biology, biotechnology and pharmacognosy to investigate the different genes that regulate biosynthesis of natural products in plants. She is also isolating, identifying novel natural products and investigating its application as anti-microbial. Several compounds isolated from novel herbs are also being studied for its potential use as alternative/complementary medicine in cancer prophylaxis.

    • Mississippi State University, USA, PhD, Year 2001-06 
    • University of Minnesota, USA, Research Post Doc, Year 2006-08
    • Villanova University, USA, Teaching Post Doc, Year 2008-10
    • 2010-2016       University of Sciences, Assistant Professor in department of Biology
    • 2016-current   University of Sciences, Associate Professor, Biological Sciences; now merged with St. Joseph   
                                University
    • 2017-current    Co-Director of Graduate Studies in Biological Sciences, Associate Professor, Biological         Sciences 

  • WW Smith  Grants Award                                                                                                  
    St. Joseph’s University    
    Title ‘Identification and validation of small molecules targeting tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptors for anti-cancer therapy against triple-negative breast cancer’. The major goal of this project is to characterize compounds that can inhibit an oncogene called ROR1.

    Milton Lev Memorial Faculty Research Funds                                                                                                        
    The funds will be used to investigate the role of a tyrosine receptor kinase in silencing tumor suppressors in triple negative breast cancer.

    Abraham & Edythe e Endowed Roth Funds                                           
    St. Joseph’s University                                                                            
    The major goal of this fund is to support the project to study small molecules that can target key oncogenes in triple negative breast cancer.

    Awards

    • Abraham and Edythe Roth Endowed Chair in Natural Products (December 2020-current)
    • Founders Day Award of Merit, Exemplifying Entrepreneurial Spirit and Values of the University, 2018
    • Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching, 2015, University of Sciences
       
    1. Reed V, Lalu E. Yoon L, Fultang N and Peethambaran B. Uncovering a novel role of ROR1 in the epigenetic regulation of tumor suppressor gene CREB3L1 in Triple-negative breast cancer cells. Biomolecules, 2025, 15, 734.
    2. Ta T, Reed VL, Chandra N, Dwyer N, Gupta SR, Singh IK, Fultang N, Peethambaran B. Novel macromolecule CPD4 suppresses cell proliferation and metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer by targeting ROR1 protein. Int J of Biol Macromolecules, 2025, 143301. PMID: 40274160
    3. Sivaganesh V, Tram T, Peethambaran B. Pentagalloyl Glucose (PGG) exhibits anticancer activity against aggressive prostate cancer by modulating the ROR1 mediated AKT-GSK3β pathway. Int J of Mol Sciences (2024); 25: 7003. (PMID 39000112)
    4. Gupta S.R.R, Ta TM, Khan M, Singh A, Singh I. K, Peethambaran B. Identification and validation of a small molecule targeting ROR1 for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. Frontier in Cell and Developmental Biology (2023); 11:1243763. (PMID 37779899)
    5. Book Chapter 13-Victoria Reed, Tram Ta, Maryam Khan, Peethambaran B. (2024). COVID-19 and immune dysfunction: Consequences, and natural remedies for management. Elsevier Publication. Book titled ‘Understanding the Pandemic Pathophysiology, transmission, and treatment of COVID-19’. Editors-Shampa Chatterjee, Amaro Nunes Duarte Neto, Marco Cascella, Sonia Villapol, Anand Viswanathan, Aravind Ganesh, Ching Lung Lai, Giuseppe Remuzzi. eBook ISBN: 978044329004
    6. Sivaganesh V, Peethambaran B. ROR1 Inhibition with Anti-Cancer Compound Strictinin Targets Highly Aggressive Androgen Independent Prostate Cancer. Exploration of Targeted Anti-tumor Therapy, Special issue: Molecular Targeted Therapy for Cancer (2023). (PMID 38213538)
    7. Leonce CM, Patel A, Gonsai R, et al. Bioassay-guided fractionation and characterization of neuroprotective compounds from the flowers of Achillea millefolium. Int J Complement Alt Med. (2022);15(3):160‒166. DOI: 10.15406/ijcam.2022.15.00605
    8. Sivaganesh V, Sivaganesh V, Scanlon C, Iskander A, Maher S, Le T, Peethambaran B. Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases: Mechanisms in Cancer, Int. J. Mol. Sci. (2021), 22(23), 12865; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222312865
    9. Sivaganesh V, Promi N, Maher S, Peethambaran B (2021) Emerging immunotherapies against novel molecular targets in breast cancer. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 22, 2433. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms2205243
    10. Sawsan H.AlelaiwiJason E.Heindl, BelaPeethambaran James R.McKee (2022). Structure–Activity Relationship of 2-Aminodibenzothiophene Pharmacophore and the Discovery of Aminobenzothiophenes as potent inhibitors of Mycobacterium smegmatis. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmcl.2022.128650
    11. Leonce C, Patel A, Peethambaran B. (2021) The role of oxidative stress and the underlying biological pathways in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s Disease. Int J Complement Alt Med. 2021;14(1):17‒24.
    12. Fultang N, Chakraborty M, Peethambaran B. (2021) Regulation of cancer stem cells in triple negative breast cancer.Cancer Drug Resistance, 4 Online First]. http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/cdr.2020.106
    13. Fultang N, Illendula A, Jianhuang L, Pandey MK, Klase Z, Peethambaran, B. (2020). ROR1 regulates chemoresistance in breast cancer via modulation of drug efflux pump ABCB1. The Scientific Reports. 10:1821, Impact Factor: 3.998 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-58864-0
    14. llendula A, Fultang N, Peethambaran B. (2020) Regulation of ROR1 by Retinoic Acid induces differentiation in Neuroblastoma by modulation of Retinoic Acid Receptor Elements. Published online in Oncology reports, Impact Factor: 3.417; Ranked: 21/244 Oncology on July 7th, 2020. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2020.7681 OR https://www.spandidos- publications.com/10.3892/or.2020.7681
    15. Fultang N, Illendula A, Chen B, Wu C, Jonnalagadda S, Baird N, Klase Z, Peethambaran B. (2019). Strictinin, a novel ROR1-inhibitor, represses triple negative breast cancer survival and migration via modulation of PI3K/AKT/GSK3ß activity. PLoS One. 2019 May 31;14(5):e0217789. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217789. eCollection 2019.
    16. Fultang N, Brar J, Mercier I, Klase Z, Peethambaran B. (2018). Myrothamnus flabellifolius selectively targets Triple Negative Breast Cancer in vitro, restoring Tamoxifen sensitivity through modulation of miRNAs associated with estrogen receptors. International Journal of Applied Research in Natural Products, 11(1):24- 33
    17. Brar J, Fultang N, Askey K, Tettamanzi MC, Peethambaran B. (2018). A novel anti-triple negative breast cancer compound isolated from medicinal herb Myrothamnus flabellifolius. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 12(1): 7-14.1
    18. Nabbie F, Smith J, Hnatyshyn S, Warrack B, Gu H, Merenich D, Myers K and Peethambaran B. (2017) 14- 3-3 lambda protein affects anthocyanin production in Arabidopsis thaliana during Drought Stress, Journal of Agricultural Science 9(7):22-37
    19. Abeer Badiab, Fizal Nabbie, Maria Cristina Tettamanzi, Nehi Patel, Nikita Jain, B Peethambaran (2016). Specific Cytotoxicity of a Novel Arbutin Derivative from Myrothamnus flabellifolius Against Human Leukemia Cells. Research Journal in Medicinal Plants. DOI: 10.3923/rjmp.2016. http://scialert.net/current.php?issn=1819-345
    20. Shah R., Patel T., Tettamanzi M.C., Rajan J., Shah M., Peethambaran B (2016). Isolation of a Novel Piperidide from Achillea ‘Moonshine’ Using Bioactivity Guided Fractionation for the Treatment of Acne. Journal of Medicinal Plant Research. 10 (30):. 495-504
    21. Brar J, Jiang J, Oubarri A, Ranieri P, Fridman A, Fridman G, Miller V and Peethambaran B. (2016).Non- thermal Plasma Treatment of Flowing Water: A Solution to Reduce Water Usage and Soil Treatment Cost without Compromising Yield, Plasma Medicine, 6(3-4):413-27
    22. Shah, R., Patel, A., Shah, M., Peethambaran B. (2015). Anti-acne activity of Achillea ‘Moonshine’ petroleum ether extract. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol 9(27):755-763 Impact factor 0.33
    23. B. Peethambaran, V. Miller, Justine, K. Kermalli. Jiaxing. J, G. Fridman, R. Balsamo and A. Fridman. (2015). Non-thermal Plasma Technology (NTPT) Reduces Water consumption while Accelerating Arabidopsis thaliana Growth and Fecundity., Plasma Medicine, 5(2-4):87-98.
    24. Balsamo R, Boak M, Nagle K, Peethambaran B, Layton B. (2015).Leaf biomechanical properties in Arabidopsis thaliana polysaccharide mutants affect drought survival. J Biomech. Nov 26;48(15):4124-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2015.10.016. Epub 2015 Oct 20. PubMed PMID: 26520913.
    1. Keynote speaker at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Deshbandhu College, Department of Zoology, Delhi, Conference- Exploring the interplay of senescence, natural compounds and environmental factors on cancer. July 8th, 2024. Title of the talk- Characterization of small, natural anti-triple negative breast cancer compounds.
    2. Poster Presentation by Victoria Reed on ‘ ROR1 as an epigenetic regulator of CREB3L1’ at American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, May 16-19, 2024, Arlington, Virginia. Coauthors- Eric Lalu, Norman Fultang, Bela Peethambaran
    3. Poster Presentation by Tram Ta on ‘Validating the Anti-cancer potency of a novel ROR1-inhibitor against triple-negative breast cancer’ at American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, May 16-19, 2024, Arlington, Virginia. Coauthors- Victoria Reed, Nikhil Chandra, Nick Dwyer, Shradheya R. R. Gupta, Norman Fultang, Indrakant K. Singh, Bela Peethambaran.
    4. Poster Presentation by Victoria Reed on ‘ ROR1 as an epigenetic regulator of CREB3L1’ at Wistar Symposium, Philadelphia, Feb 28th, 2024. Coauthors- Eric Lalu, Norman Fultang, Bela Peethambaran
    5. Poster presentation by Tram Ta on ‘A Novel ROR1 inhibitor CPD86 suppresses Triple-Negative Breast Cancer cells via regulation of AKT/GSK3β pathway’, Dec 5-9, 2023, San Antonio Breast cancer Symposium, At: Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas 78205, USA
    6. Poster presentation by Victoria Reed on ‘ROR1 regulates CREB3L via a novel signaling pathway in triple-negative breast cancer’, Breast Cancer Symposium, Dec 5-9, 2023, San Antonio, TX.
    7. Poster presentation by Tram Ta on ‘Characterization of a novel ROR1 inhibitor in Triple Negative Breast Cancer cells’. Shradheya Gupta, Maryam Khan, Nikhil Chandra, Victoria Reed, Indrakant K. Singh, Bela Peethambaran. Wistar Trainee Research Symposium 2023, At: The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
    8. Talk by Shradheya Gupta on “Identifying, Screening and Validating ROR1 Inhibitors: A Systematic Approach for Breast Cancer Treatment”. Presented by Shradheya Gupta, second author Tram Ta, Indrakant Singh, Bela Peethambaran. 2nd International Conference on Natural Products and Human Health 2022 (ICNPHH-2022), At: Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
    9. Poster presentation by Vignesh Sivaganesh at American Society of Cell Biologists on ‘Penta-O-galloyl-ꞵ-D-glucose (PGG) targets aggressive androgen-independent prostate cancer by ROR1 inhibition’ Dec 5-7, 2022.
    10. Poster presentation by Tram Ta at American Society of Cell Biologists on ‘Novel ROR1-inhibitor suppresses cell survival and migration in Triple Negative Breast Cancer’, Dec 5-2, 2022.
    11. Talk by Vignesh Sivaganesh at Experimental Biology 2021 on ‘Receptor Tyrosine Kinase-like Orphan Receptor 1 (ROR1) as a Selective Molecular Target in Androgen-Dependent and Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer’. April 2021, The Faseb Journal, Volume 3535. https://faseb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/index/15306860/2021/35/S1?ConceptID=299753&pageSize=20&start Page=1

  • Dr. Peethambaran's research is highly interdisciplinary, integrating molecular biology, cell biology, biotechnology, and pharmacognosy to identify and validate small molecules with anti-cancer properties. Recent publications from the Peethambaran laboratory highlight the discovery and mechanistic characterization of strictinin, a gallic acid derivative, with notable anti-cancer effects reported in PLOS ONE (2019) and Scientific Reports (2020). The lab has also explored the anti-cancer activity of compounds such as strictinin and pentagalloyl glucose in prostate cancer, with findings published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023, 2024).

    In silico screening of potential anti-cancer compounds has been followed by experimental validation, with results disseminated in Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (2023) and the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules (2025). Furthermore, the lab has investigated the role of oncogenes in the epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes, expanding its contributions to the understanding of cancer biology at the molecular level.