The main aim of our lab is to identify the molecular mechanisms in chronic inflammatory liver disorders and liver cancer while working towards identifying novel biomarkers of disease and therapeutic interventions. We have created several acute and chronic liver diseases model to study the mechanistic link and drug effect. Also, utilize patient samples and relevant cell culture systems to study the cellular and molecular mechanism to improve the understanding and treatment of liver disease. Currently, our lab focusing the microRNA-based therapeutic approach to liver cancer and other cirrhotic complications.

Dr. Balasubramaniyan Vairappan Additional Professor balasubramaniyan[dot]v[at]jipmer[dot]edu[dot]in

Biography:

Dr Balasubramaniyan Vairappan is an Additional Biochemistry Professor at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry, India. His interest in patient care and research led him to pursue his research career in the field of Hepatology, a field that he finds fascinating and rewarding to study. In particular, he is interested in disease-related (cirrhosis complications, NAFLD, ALD and hepatocellular carcinoma) translational research. He has completed his postdoctoral training at the UCL Institute of Liver and Digestive Health, Royal Free University Campus, University College London, a pioneering Institute in the UK, where he has worked enormously in human and rodents liver research models. Dr Vairappan's research findings led to many research grants from leading UK funding agencies such as Wellcome Trust and Medical Research Council. Furthermore, UCL has filled the patent to use obeticholic acid –an FXR agonist, to treat portal hypertension. He has published over sixty articles in peer-reviewed international journals, including a book, chapters, and reviews. Dr Vairappan also received the prestigious Ramalingaswami Fellowship from the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, in 2013. He also served as Associate Dean (Research), JIPMER, for three years between April 2019 till March 2022. He has established a small liver disease research lab in JIPMER. He has secured nearly three crores of funding from DBT, SERB, ICMR and DST and several intramural grants. Dr Vairappan has trained many Postgraduates, PhD scholars, Junior and Senior Research Fellows, and Post-Doc Fellows for their research projects. He is currently a member of several international and national conference societies. He is also an editorial board member and reviewer of several international peer-reviewed journals and funding bodies. He has presented his research at more than seventy international conferences and received more than thirty awards from national and international organizations.

His lab focuses on the role of micro RNAs, tight junction & gap junction proteins, and nitric oxide in various liver disease models in vivo and in vitro using diverse interventions including pharmacological agents, receptor agonists, and natural antioxidants and polyphenolic compounds.  

Selected Publications

• Balasubramaniyan V*, Wright, G, Corrigal D, Ravikumar TS. Liver injury in COVID-19: A Direct hit or Collateral damage? Infectious Disorders-Drug Targets 2022;22(1):e130921196417.
• Amit Kumar Ram, Balasubramaniyan V* and Srinivas BH. Nimbolide attenuates gut dysbiosis and prevents bacterial translocation by improving intestinal barrier integrity and ameliorating inflammation in hepatocellular carcinoma. Phytotherapy Research Vol 36 (5); 2143-2160.2022 IF-6.4
• Amit Kumar Ram and Balasubramaniyan V*. Nimbolide inhibits tumor growth by restoring hepatic tight junction integrity and reduced inflammation in an experimental hepatocarcinogenesis. World Journal of Gastroenterology 2020 Dec 7; 26(45): 7131–7152. Impact Factor 5.7
• Sundhar M, Balasubramaniyan V*. Ginkgolide-A attenuates bacterial translocation through activating PXR and improving antimicrobial peptide Reg 3A in cirrhosis. Life Sciences 2020 Jul 16;118111. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118111. IF-6.8
• Sundhar M, Balasubramaniyan V*. Pregnane X receptor activation by its natural ligand Ginkgolide-A improves tight junction proteins expression and attenuates bacterial translocation in cirrhosis. Chemico-Biological Interactions 2019 (In press) Impact factor 5.5.
• Balasubramaniyan V*. Sundhar M, Srinivas BH. Resveratrol Restores Neuronal Tight Junction Proteins Through Correction of Ammonia and Inflammation in CCl4-Induced Cirrhotic Mice. Molecular Neurobiology Oct 2018;56(7):4718-4729. Impact factor 5.6.
• Balasubramaniyan V*. Renal ammonia metabolism in liver diseases. Gastroenterol Hepatol Open Access. 2018;9(2):60–63.
• Balasubramaniyan V, G Mehta, Jones H, V Sharma, Davies N.A, Jalan R, Mookerjee R.P. Post-Transcriptional Regulation of Hepatic DDAH-1 with TNFα Blockade Leads to Improved eNOS Function and Reduced Portal Pressure In Cirrhotic Rats. Scientific Reports (Nature group journals) 2017 Dec 20;7(1):17900. Dec 2017(1):17900. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-18094-3. Impact Factor 5.5
• Balasubramaniyan V. Endothelial dysfunction in cirrhosis: Role of inflammation and oxidative stress. World Journal of Hepatology 2015; 7(3): 443-59.
• Balasubramaniyan V, Dhar DK, Warner AE, Vivien Li WY, Amiri AF, Bright B, Mookerjee RP, Davies NA, Becker DL and Jalan R. Importance of Connexin-43 based gap junction in cirrhosis and acute on chronic liver failure. Journal of Hepatology 2013; 58: 1194-1200. IF-30

Membership in professional bodies

• Editorial Board Member, World Journal of Gastroenterology
• Editorial Board Member, World Journal of Hepatology (2014-2018)
• Member, International Liver Cancer Association
• Member, Singapore Hepatology Conference
• Member, European Association for the Study of the Liver
• Life Member, National Teacher Training Centre for Health Professionals
• Life Member, JIPMER Scientific Society
• Member, Indian Society for Heart Research
• Member, International Society for Hepatic Sinusoidal Research
• Life Member, Indian Society for Atherosclerosis
• Past Member, British Association for the Study of the Liver (2007-2010)