Santhosh Shanthi Bhupathi, PhD

Biological Scientist

Organization:

West Virginia University WVU Cancer Institute

Department:

WVU Cancer Institute Research Laboratories

Classification:

Staff

Dr. Santhosh, Shanthi Bhupathi earned his Ph.D. in Life Sciences from JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, JSS College of Pharmacy, Ooty, India, where his doctoral research focused on the development of dual-sensitive peptide–drug conjugates for targeted ovarian cancer therapy. Prior to this, he obtained his M.Phil. in Biotechnology from Periyar University, India, where he explored the green synthesis of nanoparticles and their biological applications. His academic training has provided him with a solid foundation in cancer biology, nanotechnology, and molecular therapeutics.

He has extensive research experience spanning both academia and industry. Before joining West Virginia University, he worked as an Assistant Scientist in biotechnology R&D at Symbiotec Pharmalab, Indore, MP, India where he was involved in strain improvement, upstream/downstream process development, and large-scale production of recombinant proteins and pharmaceuticals. His Ph.D. work earned him multiple recognitions, including the Cancer Innovative Award and the Research Excellence Award 2020, and he was selected for the Taiwan Experience Education Program (TEEP) fellowship by the Government of Taiwan.

Currently, as a Biological Scientist at the WVU Cancer Institute, Dr. Santhosh is investigating tumor microenvironmental regulation, drug resistance, and protein folding pathways in cancer progression, with an emphasis on identifying novel therapeutic vulnerabilities. He is also investigating a novel molecule for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), for which he received the Best Poster Award at The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) 2025.

In addition to his academic achievements, Dr. Santhosh has contributed to peer-reviewed publications, served as a reviewer for multiple journals, and is a member of editorial boards. His career vision is to advance novel strategies in cancer therapeutics that can be translated into clinically relevant outcomes.

Alexander B. Osborn Hematopoietic Malignancy and Transplantation Program

Research Interests:
Dr. Santhosh has a strong background in cancer biology, molecular biology, and experimental therapeutics. His research interests are centered on developing novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of solid tumors, with a particular focus on drug-resistant cancers. To this end, his work has explored i) design and development of dual-sensitive peptide–drug conjugates for targeted drug delivery, ii) the role of tumor microenvironment and oxidative stress pathways in tumor progression, iii) nanoparticle-based therapeutic approaches for cancer and infectious diseases, and iv) Investigating novel molecule for the treatment of MASH.

During his doctoral training, Dr. Santhosh developed pH- and thermo-sensitive peptide–doxorubicin conjugates that enhanced tumor-specific targeting and demonstrated efficacy against ovarian cancers. His research at the WVU Cancer Institute is focused on understanding tumor microenvironment interactions, redox biology, and protein folding pathways, with the overarching aim of identifying druggable vulnerabilities in cancer progression.

His long-term goal is to translate laboratory discoveries into therapeutic solutions. To achieve this, he integrates molecular biology, nanotechnology, and translational cancer biology approaches, while collaborating across chemistry and pharmacology disciplines to identify and validate new targets. By bridging discovery research with preclinical evaluation, Dr. Santhosh is committed to advancing innovative strategies for overcoming drug resistance and improving patient outcomes.