Rajesh Ramasamy

  • Research Overview

    Dr. Rajesh is leader of Stem Cell & Immunity Research Group at the Immunology Lab. His research group is mainly working on areas below:

    1) Molecular and cellular exploration of the immuno-modulatory role of human and animal mesenchymal stem cells.

    Dr Rajesh has started exploring the immunomodulatory property of human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells since his PhD at Imperial College of London. Together with Professor Dr. Francesco Dazzi, head of Stem Cell Transplantation, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College this group has produced pioneer articles on MSC mediated immunosuppression. The role of MSC on modulating various immune cells namely T cells, B cells, monocytes, dendritic cells, neutrophils and immune tumour cells have been extensively investigated via cellular, molecular and micro array analysis.

    Collaborators:

    i) Prof. Dr. Francesco Dazzi, Imperial College, UK

    ii) Prof. Dr. Ruszymah Haji Idrus, Tissue Engineering Center, UKM

    iii) Assoc. Prof. Sharmili Vidyadaran, Neuroinflammation Group, UPM

     

    2) Generation and characterization of human mesenchymal stem cells from various sources

    Due to escalating demand of MSC for research and the potential clinical applications, MSC from various human sources have been explored and tested for their feasibility. At Stem Cell & Immunity group, MSC from human cardiac, cartilage, umbilical cord & blood, placenta and bone marrow are being evaluated and characterised based on universally accepted standards.

    Collaborators:

    i) National Cord Blood Bank

    ii) Dr. Tan Jun Jie, AMDI, USM

    iii) Dr. Soon Chin Fhong, UTHM

    iv) Dr. Sivakumar, IJN & Kyoto Prefectural University, Japan

     

    3)  Natural product and herbal research on immune enhancement and rejuvenation.

    Several local based herbs namely Cassia auriculata and Zingiber officinale Roscoe are being tested to restore the compromised immune response and recapitulate stem cells’ physiology in diabetes.

    Collaborators

    i) Prof. Dr. Aishah Adam, UiTM

    ii) Dr. Senthilvasan, IMU

    iii) Dr. Mahendran Appukutty, UiTM

    iv) Prof. Dr Aishah Rahmat, UPM

    Research Funding

    Project Title Funding Source
    Crosstalk between haematopoietic stem cell and mesenchymal stem cell at in vitro culture: a preclinical model to scale up stem cell expansion Putra Grant - Putra Graduate Initiative (IPS)
    Assessment of immunomodulatory activity of luteolin-phytosome complex (LPC) in mouse model Postgraduate Supervision Grants (PSG)
    Immunomodulatory activity of luteolin-phytosome complex (LPC) Putra Grant - Putra Graduate Initiative (IPS)
    Human Cardiac Stem Cells International Stem Cell Fund Kyoto Prefecture University
    Establishment of methodology to generate and characterise mesenchymal stem cells from human umbilical cord RUGS | UPM
    Generation and characterisation of human mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cord blood: A possible reagent for tissue regeneration and transplantation FRGS | MOE
    Confining the molecular mechanism of anti-tumourigenic effect exerted by human mesenchymal stem cells via mRNA expression FRGS | MOE
    Exploration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) mediated immunosuppression through microRNA array: a global analysis RUGS | UPM
    Deciphering the immunomodulatory function and anti-diabetic activity of Cassia auriculata on type I and type II diabetes FRGS | MOE
    Generation and characterisation of human mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cord blood: a possible tool for immunotherapy Science Fund | MOSTI

    Selected Publications

    Maryam Maqbool, Sharmili Vidyadaran, Elizabeth George & Rajesh Ramasamy* 2011 Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Protect Neutrophil from Serum Deprived Cell Death Cell Biology International 35(12):1247-51

    John CM, Sandrasaigaran P, Tong CK, Adam A, Ramasamy R 2011 Immunomodulatory Activity Of Polyphenols Derived From Cassia Auriculata Flowers In Aged Rats Cellular Immunology 271(2):474-479

    C.M. John, R. Ramasamy, G. Al Naqeeb, A.H.D. Al-Nuaimi and A. Adam 2012 Nicotinamide Supplementation Protects Gestational Diabetic Rats by Reducing Oxidative Stress and Enhancing Immune Responses Current Medicinal Chemistry 19(30):5181-6


    Vellasamy S, Sandrasaigaran P, Vidyadaran S, Abdullah M, George E, Ramasamy R 2013 Mesenchymal stem cells of human placenta and umbilical cord suppress T-cell proliferation at G(0) phase of cell cycle. Cell Biology International 37(3):250-6

    Awards

    Year Name of Award
    2014 Best Poster Award (Cluster: Stem Cells) | Shalini Vellasamy, Tong Chih Kong, Atiqah Azhar, Chan Soon Choy, Abhi Veerakumarasivam and Rajesh Ramasamy
    2014 Best Poster Award (Cluster: Stem Cells) | Zuraidah Yusoff, Roshida Hassan, Elizabeth George and Rajesh Ramasamy
    2014 Best Poster Award (Cluster: Stem Cells)
    2009 GOLD Medal | PRPI | UPM
    2012 BEST 10 RESEARCHERS’ AWARD |UPM
    2013 Anugerah Perhidmatan Cemerlang | UPM
    2011 GOLD Medal | PRPI | UPM
    2010 Best Poster Award | National
    2010 SILVER Medal | MTE | National
    2009 SILVER Medal |BioInno Award | National

    Current Lab Members

    Name Position Research Interest Year Joined
  • Rajesh Ramasamy

    [email protected]
    Mesenchymal Stem Cells

    03-89472377