Dr. Upma Sharma is a Cancer Biology researcher who earned her Ph.D. through collaborative research between the Department of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry at ICMR–National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (ICMR-NICPR), Noida, and the Department of Biotechnology at Banasthali Vidyapith, Rajasthan. Her doctoral work focused on elucidating the complex molecular mechanisms underlying oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), with a particular emphasis on the immunomodulatory genes and its signaling pathways. She made a significant contribution by identifying novel genetic variations in the Interleukin-10 gene and obtained GenBank accession numbers for these findings in the dbSNP database. Her research, grounded in comprehensive molecular and epidemiological analyses of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in the Indian population, investigates the interplay between functionally significant genetic variations and co-infections with human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), aiming to uncover novel genetic molecular biomarkers to enhance early detection and develop targeted therapeutic strategies for OSCC.”
In addition to her core research, Dr. Sharma has actively contributed to translational projects of national importance, including an India-specific Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA vaccine project aimed at enhancing the immunogenicity of HPV16 L1 constructs using both genetic and non-genetic adjuvants. She played a key role in a comprehensive HPV screening initiative targeting oral and cervical cancers, where she was involved in clinical data management, high-throughput HPV testing, and working alongside clinicians. Following the completion of her Ph.D., she was awarded a prestigious three-year Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, where she continued to expand her work on cancer immunogenetics, biomarker identification, and therapeutic target validation. She was awarded a prestigious International Travel Support Grant under the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB-DST, India) to present her doctoral research at the UICC-World Cancer Congress held in Paris, France in November 2016. This opportunity enabled her to share her groundbreaking work in cancer research on an international platform.
Dr. Sharma’s academic portfolio includes multiple publications in high-impact national/international journals, along with oral and poster presentations at globally recognized scientific conferences. Dr. Sharma brings over ten years of research experience at the interface of clinical and laboratory science. She is highly skilled in advanced molecular biology techniques, clinical sample handling, translational research, grant proposal development, and scientific communication. Her work continues to shed light on the intricate molecular mechanisms linking immune regulation and cancer progression, with the ultimate goal of improving diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes for cancer patients.