Sonia Arora, Ph.D
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences,
NJ Center for Science Mathematics and Technology Education
Kean University,
1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 08703
Contact Information
Phone: 908-737-3418
Fax: 908-737-3425
Office: Townsend Hall T117
Education and Training
2004- 2009: Postdoctoral Training in Computational Drug Design, Pharmacology and Bioinformatics, University of Medicine & Dentistry (UMD), NJ
1999-2004: Ph.D. in Molecular Biosciences, Rutgers University and UMD, NJ
1996-1998: M.S. in Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
1993-1996: B.S. (Honors) in Biochemistry, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India.
Research Interests
My laboratory specializes in the computer aided drug design and development of Mechanism Based Bioactive Molecules. We use computational molecular modeling and cheminformatics tools along with pharmacological strategies to discover novel drug like molecules that target various human diseases. We focus on development of newer therapeutic modules for cancer, obesity, bacterial infections and memory loss. Below is a brief list of active research projects in my laboratory:
Project I: Discovery of Novel Cell Cycle Inhibitors using Computer Aided Drug Design.
Project II: Developing Combination Treatment for Cancer based on Herbs and Neutraceuticals.
Project III: Discovery of new anti-bacterial agents based on Indian Medicinal Plant: "Neem".
Project IV: Studying Ayurvedic Principles for Treatments of Obesity and Cardiovascular disorders.
Project V: Development of analogs of "Ashwagandha" as memory enhancing agents (In Collaboration with Dr. Shanthi Rajaraman at Stockton College)
Teaching Experience
Currently at Kean, I am teaching: (a) Molecular and Cell Biology I (b) Advanced Cell Biology (c) Scientific Writing and Presentation (d) Basic Pharmacology and (e) Living Systems. Prior to joining Kean, I was visiting Assistant professor at Richard Stockton College of NJ where I taught Evolution-Organism Diversity and Cells-Molecules. In past, I have also taught General Biology, Physiology, Genetics and Biochemistry as an Instructor at Rutgers University.
Awards and Honors
NCI Cancer Pharmacology Training Fellowship Grant, 2008-2009.
Invited Peer Grant Reviewer: CDMRP Programs, United States Army, 2007 and 2008.
Invited Symposium: American Association of Cancer Research, 94th Annual Meeting, 2003
Young Investigator Award, Department of Pharmacology, UMDNJ, 2001 and 2002
Research Fellowship, Molecular Biosciences Program, Rutgers University, 1999-2000.
Gold Medal, B.S. (Honors) Biochemistry, University of Delhi, 1996.
Patents
Anti-Mitotic Anti-Proliferative Compounds (PCT filed, March 2006). William J. Welsh, Sonia Arora, Susan M. Keenan, Youyii Peng, Xin Wang, Qiang Zhang.
Discovery of Novel Delta-Opioid Receptor Selective Compounds as Clinically Significant Therapeutic Agents (PCT filed, June 2006). William J. Welsh, Sonia Arora, Susan M. Keenan, Youyii Peng, Xin Wang, Qiang Zhang.
Selected Publications
Arora S, Wang XI, Keenan SM, Andaya, C, Zhang Q, Peng Y, Welsh WJ. Novel microtubule polymerization inhibitor with potent antiproliferative and antitumor activity. Cancer Res., 69: 1910:1915 (2009)
Peng Y, Zhang Q, Arora S, Keenan SM, Kortagere S, Wannemacher KM, Howells RD, Welsh WJ Novel delta opioid receptor agonists exhibit differential stimulation of signaling pathways (In Press) Bioorg. Med. Chem. (2009). doi:10.1016/j.bmc.2009.07.007
Zhang Q, Peng Y, Wang XI, Keenan SM, Arora S, Welsh WJ. Highly potent triazole-based tubulin polymerization inhibitors. J. Med. Chem. 50:749-754 (2007).
Wang CY, Ai N, Arora S, Erenrich E, Nagarajan K, Zauhar R, Young D, Welsh WJ. Identification of previously unrecognized antiestrogenic chemicals using a novel virtual screening approach. Chem Res Toxicol. 19:1595-601 (2006).
Arora S., Yang J.M., and Hait W.N. Identification of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in the regulation of the stability of eukaryotic elongation factor-2 kinase. Cancer Res., 65: 3806-3810 (2005).
Arora S., Yang J.M., Ryutaro Utsumi R., Okamoto T., Kitayama T., and Hait W.N. P-glycoprotein mediates resistance to histidine kinase inhibitors. Mol. Pharm., 66: 460-467 (2004).
Arora S., Yang J.M., Kinzy T.G., Ryutaro Utsumi R., Okamoto T., Kitayama T., Ortiz P.A. and Hait W.N. Identification and Characterization of an Inhibitor of Eukaryotic Elongation Factor 2 Kinase against Human Cancer Cell Lines. Cancer Res., 63: 6894-6899 (2003).
Arora, S., Yang, J. M., Craft, J., and Hait, W. Detection of anti-elongation factor 2 kinase (calmodulin-dependent protein kinase III) antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 293: 1073-1076 (2002).
Arora, S., Mathew, R., Mathur, M., Chattopadhayay, T. K., and Ralhan, R. Alterations in MDM2 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: relationship with p53 status. Pathol Oncol Res, 7: 203-208 (2001).
Arora, S., Mathur, M., Chattopadhaya T.K., and Ralhan, R. Esophageal cancer: Correlation of molecular alterations with dietary factors. In: Oral Oncology, Volume VI, A. K. Verma Eds., p11-14, (1999).