Sidath  C.  Kumarapperuma, Ph.D.

Dr. Kumarapperuma's research interests are focused on the development of novel imaging methods for visualization, characterization, and quantification of biological processes taking place at the cellular and subcellular levels within intact living subjects, including patients. In this regard, ImmunoPET imaging is an active area of research in the Kumarapperuma laboratory and new imaging probes are being developed with positron-emitting isotope tagged biomolecules (e.g. biologically active small molecules, peptides, oligonucleotides, antibodies, antibody-fragments, biofunctionalized nanoparticles, and vaccines) to track cells, viruses, and immune complexes. Dr. Kumarapperuma's lab is currently developing novel PET/MRI imaging techniques to support projects directed towards studying the mechanisms of mucosal transfer of HIV, visualization of virus reservoirs, development of lymph node targeted vaccines, and design of novel cancer imaging agents. 

Diseases Associated: Infectious Disease, Cancer, Metabolic Disease

Sub-Field of Study: Radiopharmaceutical development

Techniques Used: PET, MRI, Optical Imaging, Radiochemistry, Synthetic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry

• Professional Background

  Education

  • 2011 - Postdoctoral Training - Chemical Biology - University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
  • 2008 - PhD - Chemistry - New Mexico State University
  • 2001 - BS - Chemistry - University of Colombo

  Appointments

  • 06/2018 - Assistant Professor/Research - Department of Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

• Instruction & Training

  • 1/2018 - Present, Phys Nuclear Medi Imaging, The University of Texas Health Science Center

• Research & Grants

  Dr. Kumarapperuma's research interests are focused on the development of novel imaging methods for visualization, characterization, and quantification of biological processes taking place at the cellular and subcellular levels within intact living subjects, including patients. In this regard, ImmunoPET imaging is an active area of research in the Kumarapperuma laboratory and new imaging probes are being developed with positron-emitting isotope tagged biomolecules (e.g. biologically active small molecules, peptides, oligonucleotides, antibodies, antibody-fragments, biofunctionalized nanoparticles, and vaccines) to track cells, viruses, and immune complexes.

  Grants

  Federal

  Funding Agency NATIONAL CENTER FOR ADVANCING TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCES Title ImmunoPET Probe Production and Purification System Status Active Period 7/2018 - 4/2018 Role Co-Investigator Grant Detail  

• Publications

   

  Journal Article:

  Maize KM, Shah R, Strom A, Kumarapperuma SC, Zhou A, Wagner CR, Finzel BC. A Crystal Structure Based Guide to the Design of Human Histidine Triad Nucleotide Binding Protein 1 (hHint1) Activated ProTides Mol Pharm 2017 Nov;14(11):3987-3997.

  Shah R, Petersburg J, Gangar AC, Fegan A, Wagner CR, Kumarapperuma SC. In Vivo Evaluation of Site-Specifically PEGylated Chemically Self-Assembled Protein Nanostructures Mol Pharm 2016 Jul;13(7):2193-2203.

  Gangar A, Fegan A, Kumarapperuma SC, Huynh P, Benyumov A, Wagner CR. Targeted delivery of antisense oligonucleotides by chemically self-assembled nanostructures Mol Pharm 2013 Sep;10(9):3514-3518.

  Fegan A, Kumarapperuma SC, Wagner CR. Chemically self-assembled antibody nanostructures as potential drug carriers Mol Pharm 2012 Nov;9(11):3218-3227.

  Gangar A, Fegan A, Kumarapperuma SC, Wagner CR. Programmable self-assembly of antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates as small molecule and protein carriers J Am Chem Soc 2012 Feb;:2895-2897.

  McDowell M, Gonzales SR, Kumarapperuma SC, Jeselnik M, Arterburn JB, Hanley KA. A novel nucleoside analog, 1-beta-d-ribofuranosyl-3-ethynyl-[1,2,4]triazole (ETAR), exhibits efficacy against a broad range of flaviviruses in vitro Antiviral Res 2010 Jul;87(1):78-80.

  Chung DH, Kumarapperuma SC, Sun Y, Li Q, Chu YK, Arterburn JB, Parker WB, Smith J, Spik K, Ramanathan HN, Schmaljohn CS, Jonsson CB. Synthesis of 1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-3-ethynyl-[1,2,4]triazole and its in vitro and in vivo efficacy against Hantavirus Antiviral Res 2008 Jul;79(1):19-27.

  Kumarapperuma SC, Sun Y, Jeselnik M, Chung K, Parker WB, Jonsson CB, Arterburn JB. Structural effects on the phosphorylation of 3-substituted 1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazoles by human adenosine kinase Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2007 Jun;17(11):3203-3207.