Prof Srikala Raghavan
Epithelial Homeostasis and Immune Regulation at Barrier Surfaces
The skin is a complex organ that serves as the primary barrier between the body and the external environment, and its homeostasis is critically dependent on the precise coordination between epithelial cells and resident immune cells. In our laboratory, we study the mammalian skin to elucidate the complex interactions between epithelial cells and macrophages, both in the context of skin development and in inflammatory skin disorders. Embryonic macrophages derived from the yolk sac and foetal liver enter the skin at E12.5 and are active contributors to both homeostasis and inflammation, rather than serving as bystander cells. A major question in the field of inflammation is how an immune response is initiated and appropriately terminated. Compromising either the initiation or resolution of an inflammatory response can lead to debilitating states such as infection and sepsis at one extreme, or chronic inflammatory diseases at the other. We have been particularly focused on understanding the metabolic crosstalk between epithelial cells and macrophages as a key mechanism that governs this balance, and the insights gained from these studies are beginning to reveal new paradigms for treating inflammatory skin diseases like psoriasis, with broader implications for epithelial-immune metabolic crosstalk in cancer.
Biography
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Recent Publications
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Biography
Education and qualifications
- 1998: PhD, Genetics, University of Cambridge, UK
- 1994: MSc Molecular Biology, Bombay University
- 1991: BSc Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, Bangalore University
Appointments
- 2024–present: Professor of Epithelial Biology, School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow and Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute
- 2023–2024: Research Member, Skin Research Institute Singapore
- 2020–2024: Adjunct Associate Professor, Institute for Stem Biology and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), Bangalore
- 2021–2024: Principal Investigator/Principal Scientist, A*STAR Skin Research lab
- 2020–2021: Principal Investigator, Skin Research Institute Singapore
- 2012–2020: Associate Professor, Institute for Stem Biology and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), Bangalore
- 2005–2012: Assistant Professor, Columbia University, NY
- 2002–2004: Postdoctoral Fellow, Rockefeller University, NY (with Elaine Fuchs)
- 1998–2002: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Chicago (with Elaine Fuchs)
Awards and Fellowships
- 2012–2016: Research Scholar Grant, American Cancer Society, USA
- 2010–2013: Herbert Irving Research Scholar Award
- 2010: JDR Cover of the Year, Awarded by the AADR/IADR
- 2009–2011: NYSTEM Idea Award from New York Stem Cell Science, New York, USA
- 2005–2008: Research Career Development Award, Dermatology Foundation
- 1999–2001: Human Frontiers Science Program, long-term fellowship
- 1998–1999: Coleman Fellowship, Committee on Cancer Biology, University of Chicago
- 1994–1997: Overseas Research Scheme Award
- 1991–1994: Department of Biotechnology Fellowship, Government of India
Professional Activities
- Associate Editor, BMC Developmental Biology
- Review Editor of the Editorial Board of Cell Adhesion and Migration, Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
- Editorial Board Cell Biology and Translational Medicine (Springer-Nature)
- Peer review of manuscripts for: Journal of Cell Biology, Development, Journal of Dental Research, PNAS, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, ELife, Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, EMBO Reports, Cell Reports, Frontiers in Immunology
Recent Publications
2025
Chan WW, Roy KR, Le BQ, Ezhilarasu H, Zhang X, Lim RYD, Banerjee A, Kuriakose M, Ng KJ, Murugan P, Goh CT, Zhou W, Naing MW, Raghavan S, Choudhury D. A Novel Crosslinking Approach for Biomanufacturing of a Collagen-Based Skin Dermal Template. Macromol Biosci. 2025;25(2):e2400457.
Zhu DD, Lim RYD, Poh YL, Li DS, Raghavan S, Chen P. Transdermal hydrogen therapy for psoriasis using cavity-embedded double-conical microneedles. J Control Release. 2025;388(Pt 1):114313.
2024
Ayyangar U, Karkhanis A, Tay H, Afandi AFB, Bhattacharjee O, Ks L, Lee SH, Chan J, Raghavan S. Metabolic rewiring of macrophages by epidermal-derived lactate promotes sterile inflammation in the murine skin. EMBO J. 2024 Apr;43(7):1113-1134.
2023
Wang J, Fu Y, Huang W, Biswas R, Banerjee A, Broussard JA, Zhao Z, Wang D, Bjerke G, Raghavan S, Yan J, Green KJ, Yi R. MicroRNA-205 promotes hair regeneration by modulating mechanical properties of hair follicle stem cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2023 May 30;120(22):e2220635120.
2022
Lim R, Banerjee A, Biswas R, Chari AN, Raghavan S. Mechanotransduction through adhesion molecules: Emerging roles in regulating the stem cell niche. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2022 Sep 12;10:966662.