Balawant Kumar

Professional Background

My research program is fundamentally oriented toward elucidating the molecular pathobiology of colorectal carcinogenesis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with a translational mandate to develop interventional modalities that mechanistically target dysregulated pathways driving mucosal barrier dysfunction and tumorigenic transformation. A cornerstone of this initiative involves the discovery and validation of precision biomarkers with clinical utility in stratifying disease subtypes, predicting therapeutic response, and monitoring longitudinal outcomes in colorectal cancer and IBD.
Concurrently, we investigate the interplay between bacterial infection and host immune networks, delineating their collective influence on inflammatory pathogenesis and tumorigenic progression. To interrogate these systems-level interactions, we employ genetically engineered murine models (GEMMs) with tissue-specific perturbations, coupled with in vivo models of colitis-associated injury and in vitro systems engineered for spatiotemporal resolution of mucosal repair dynamics. These are augmented by 3D organotypic cultures (organoids and tumoroids) that recapitulate the histoarchitectural, transcriptional, and functional heterogeneity of human intestinal epithelium with high fidelity.
Through this multidisciplinary approach, we seek to: (1) define molecular drivers of disease exacerbation and therapeutic resistance; (2) identify microbial and immune mediators of mucosal dysregulation; and (3) validate novel therapeutic candidates that restore barrier integrity or inhibit oncogenic signaling cascades. Our integrative methodology synergizes multi-omics profiling, functional genomics, and preclinical validation to accelerate bench-to-bedside translation of precision therapies for gastrointestinal malignancies and chronic inflammatory disorders.
My research has been published in peer-reviewed publications such as the JCI, Molecular Cancer, Oncogene, Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research, Scientific Report, Oncotarget and Cancers etc.

Research

Overview

My research is focused on understanding the molecular aspects of oncogenic growth and progression in cancers of solid tissue origin as cancer progression metastasis remains the major cause of patient death. Changes in epithelial barrier functions play a key role in oncogenic growth and cancer progression. We have published that disruption of the tight junction plays an important role in the loss of cell polarity and promotes invasive mobility in cancer cells. Claudin family of proteins, the tight junction integral proteins, are expresses in tissue specific manners and play a differential role in cancer progression. Regarding these studies, I am using murine models of cancer growth and organ-specific modulation of the expression of specific claudin proteins to understand their tissue specific role in cancer progression. For in vivo studies, we are using a genetically modified murine mice model. I have also developed the 3D organoid culture including the 3D-tumor culture. I am using these technologies to assess novel therapies that can help inhibit cancer growth. My research has been published in peer-reviewed publications such as Journal of experimental and clinical cancer research, Oncogene, Molecular Cancer, Scientific report, Oncotarget and cancers etc.

• Ahmad Rizwan, Kumar Balawant, Thapa Ishwor, Tamang Raju Lama, Yadav Santosh K, Washington Mary K, Talmon Geoffrey A, Yu Alan S, Bastola Dhundy K, Dhawan Punita, Singh Amar B. 2023. Claudin-2 protects against colitis-associated cancer by promoting colitis-associated mucosal healing. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 133 (23). https://doi.org/10.1172/jci170771
• Chivero Ernest T, Ahmad Rizwan, Thangaraj Annadurai, Periyasamy Palsamy, Kumar Balawant, Kroeger Elisa, Feng Dan, Guo Ming-Lei, Roy Sabita, Dhawan Punita, Singh Amar B, Buch Shilpa. 2019. Cocaine Induces Inflammatory Gut Milieu by Compromising the Mucosal Barrier Integrity and Altering the Gut Microbiota Colonization. Scientific Reports, 9 (1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-48428-2
• Kumar Pradeep, Rawat Kavita, Sharma Tanuj, Kumari Sushila, Saxena Reshu, Kumar Balawant, Baghel Tanvi, Afshan Tayyaba, Siddiqi Mohammad Imran, Nazir Aamir, Ghosh Jimut Kanti, Tripathi Raj Kamal. 2019. HIV-1 Nef physically associate with CAMKIIδ – ASK-1 complex to inhibit p38MAPK signalling and apoptosis in infected cells. Life Sciences, 224, 263-273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2019.03.039
• Uppada Srijayaprakash Babu, Gowrikumar Saiprasad, Ahmad Rizwan, Kumar Balawant, Szeglin Bryan, Chen Xi, Smith J. Joshua, Batra Surinder K, Singh Amar B, Dhawan Punita. 2018. MASTL induces Colon Cancer progression and Chemoresistance by promoting Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Molecular Cancer, 17 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-018-0848-3
• Kumar Balawant, Ahmad Rizwan, Sharma Swagat, Gowrikumar Saiprasad, Primeaux Mark, Rana Sandeep, Natarajan Amarnath, Oupicky David, Hopkins Corey R, Dhawan Punita, Singh Amar B. 2021. PIK3C3 Inhibition Promotes Sensitivity to Colon Cancer Therapy by Inhibiting Cancer Stem Cells. Cancers, 13 (9), 2168. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13092168
• Lama Tamang Raju, Kumar Balawant, Patel Sagar M, Thapa Ishwor, Ahmad Alshomrani, Kumar Vikas, Ahmad Rizwan, Becker Donald F, Bastola Dundy (Kiran), Dhawan Punita, Singh Amar B. 2023. Pyrroline-5-Carboxylate Reductase-2 Promotes Colorectal Carcinogenesis by Modulating Microtubule-Associated Serine/Threonine Kinase-like/Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling. Cells, 12 (14), 1883. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12141883