Kalyani Pyaram, PhD

Professional Background

Dr. Kalyani Pyaram is an Assistant professor in the Department of Cancer biology. She is a member of the KU cancer center. Dr. Pyaram's research expertise is in cellular immunology and immunometabolism. Her lab is interested in understanding the metabolic mechanisms governing the immune fate of CD4 (T helper) and CD8 (T killer) T-cells and to identify the factors and pathways that can manipulate the immune cell metabolism with the aim of targeting them for treating T-cell mediated immunopathogies including cancer.

• BS, Microbiology, Osmania University, India
• MS, Biotechnology, Pondicherry University, India
• PhD, Biotechnology, National Centre For Cell Science, Pune University, India
• Post Doctoral Fellowship, Immunology, University of Michigan , United States

Research

Overview

T-cells are vital immune cells which play a key role in fighting infections and cancer. Dysregulation of T-cells is a contributing factor in many inflammatory autoimmune diseases in humans, like multiple sclerosis, colitis and rheumatoid arthritis as well as in susceptibility to infections and cancers. Our research focuses on understanding the metabolic mechanisms governing the T cell mediated immune responses. We are looking into the role of stress-responsive antioxidant system in T cell development and effector functions. We use a multidisciplinary approach involving immunologic, biochemical and metabolic assays to identify and decipher the role of different signaling pathways, nutrients and other factors in deciding the fate of T cells and their ability to elicit an immune response against pathogens and tumors.

• Anil, Aprajita, Debolina, Pyaram, Kalyani. 2023. Beyond Antioxidation: Keap1-Nrf2 in the Development and Effector Functions of Adaptive Immune Cells. Immunohorizons
• Pyaram, K, Kumar, A, Kim, Y., H, Noel, S, Reddy, S., P, Rabb, H, Chang, C., H. 2019. Keap1-Nrf2 System Plays an Important Role in Invariant Natural Killer T Cell Development and Homeostasis.. Cell reports, 27 (3), 699-707.e4
• Kumar, A, Pyaram, K, Yarosz, E., L, Hong, H, Lyssiotis, C., A, Giri, S, Chang, C., H. 2019. Enhanced oxidative phosphorylation in NKT cells is essential for their survival and function.. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 116 (15), 7439-7448