After obtaining his doctoral degree in molecular carcinogenesis from Purdue University, Mandar was selected as a T32 trainee and joined Dr. Michael Hodsdon's lab at the Yale school of Medicine. His work focused on elucidating the mechanism of pH-dependence of the human prolactin:prolactin receptor interaction, with the intent of abrogating such pH-dependence so that breast cancer cells may become refractory to prolactin mediated unregulated cancerous growth. He was awarded the young investigator award by the ACLPS for his work at Yale.
After his fellowship, he worked as a senior scientist at M/Z Diagnostics, where he developed a rapid clinical assay for antibiotic resistance, managed business activity, obtained an NIH-SBIR grant as a PI, and was awarded a young investigator award by the FSG. He then chose to return to his roots in India and has been appointed as the Chief Technology Office at Cancer Genetics India, where he is responsible for ensuring the financial success of the Indian business unit while focusing on developing and clinically validating genomics-based clinical assay in the area of precision oncology. He has established several high value collaborations to transform the Indian personalized oncology diagnostics landscape.
I believe that the mentor-ship received from Dr. Hodsdon and Dr. Smith at Yale is at the heart of my scientific creativity and has been the most liberating, inspiring, and transformative experiences that will continue to support my success.
Mandar Kulkarni