Jawed A. Siddiqui, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department:
SOM-Cell and Molecular Biology
Email:
jsiddiqui@umc.edu
Work Phone:
(601) 984-4309
Biography
One of the major objectives of our laboratory is to elucidate biological mechanisms underlying bone metastasis of different malignancies. Bone metastases or dissemination of cancer cells within the bone are considered an advanced, debilitating, and incurable disease. Despite its high morbidity and mortality, the biology of bone metastasis signifies one of the most multifaceted and fascinating processes in several malignancies. Prostate, breast, lung, and kidney cancers have characteristics of selective bone tropism.
The convolution of bone metastases derives from the intricately organized bone microenvironment where numerous vital processes, including hematopoiesis, osteogenesis, and osteolysis, are conjointly regulated with spatial limitations. Dissemination and homing of tumor cells in the bone microenvironment are uniquely primed to destabilize the homeostasis of the bone microenvironment and fuel the pathological osteolytic and osteoblastic lesions. The bone metastasis process can be separated into three key steps (seeding, dormancy, and outgrowth), and targeting dormancy and outgrowth in bone microenvironments offers the most therapeutic promise.
Our lab has developed unique techniques and experimental models that allow us to decipher bone metastasis. Metastatic tumors attain the skill to blunt or overturn the functions of the immune system. We are interested in dissecting how metastatic cancers evolve to persuade the immune system's dysfunctionality in primary and metastatic sites among tumors of diverse genetic backgrounds. Unraveling the mechanisms of the immune system and bone cell cross-talk offers therapeutic possibilities for bone metastasis. We study how cancer cells influence bone resident macrophages (Osteomacs) for their colonization and growth within the bone microenvironment and design therapeutic strategies accordingly.
Current projects in the lab include:
1. Molecular mechanism of bone metastasis (Prostate, Breast, and Lung cancer)
2. Bone Microenvironment
3. Osteoimmunology and Tumor Dormancy.
4. Development of the Bone metastasis Therapeutics
Research Opportunities:
If you are excited about contributing to bone metastasis research, join our collaborative team. We always look for a highly enthusiastic researcher to join as graduate students, summer fellows, clinical fellows, and postdoctoral fellows. We are continuously open to collaboration.
Education
| Central Drug Research Institute/JNU, India, PhD, Endocrinology and Bone Biology | |
| Calicut University, MS, Biotechnology |
Specialty Certification Licensure
| Certification |
Academic Appointments or Other Previous Appointments
| Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center, School of Medicine |
Sponsored Program Funding
| Intramural, Targeting Mitochondrial metabolism to overcome enzalutamide resistance in Prostate cancer bone metastasis, American Cancer Society (ACS) | 02/2024 - 02/2025 |
| Extramural, Therapeutic Targeting of GFRAL/RET Axis to Overcome Bone Metastasis of Breast Cancer, METAvivor | 09/2022 - 07/2025 |
| Intramural, Targeting Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor, a Novel Immunotherapeutic Approach for Lung Cancer-Bone Metastasis, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer (FPBCC) | 02/2022 - 02/2024 |
| Extramural, Targeting Novel GDF15/GFRAL/RET Axis in Prostate Cancer Bone Metastasis, DoD | 07/2021 - 07/2025 |
| Extramural, Targeting MUC5AC Mucin in breast cancer brain metastasis, NCI | 02/2021 - 01/2026 |
Publications
Journal Article | |
| Kaushal JB, Raut P, Halder S, Alsafwani ZW, Parte S, Sharma G, Abdullah KM, Seshacharyulu P, Lele SM, Batra SK, Siddiqui JA Oncogenic potential of truncated-Gli3 via the Gsk3β/Gli3/AR-V7 axis in castration-resistant prostate cancer Oncogene. 2025 Jan 16. doi: 10.1038/s41388-024-03266-z. Epub ahead of print. | |
Review Article | |
| Chaudhary S, Siddiqui JA, Pothuraju R, Bhatia R Ribosome biogenesis, altered metabolism and ribotoxic stress response in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumor microenvironment | 2025 |
Presentations
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Growth Factors Driving Bone Niche Formation in Prostate Cancer, Prostate Cancer Center of Excellence at Mount Sinai, New York | 05/2025 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Growth factors from Biomarker to therapy of prostate cancer, • University of Chicago, Rockford, University of Chicago, Rockford | 02/2025 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Growth Factors and Chemokines in Niche Formation Bone Metastasis, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill | |
| Invited Symposia, The bone anabolic effect of parathyroid hormone via Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein, British Bone Research meeting, Edinburg, Scotland | |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Multifaceted role of Chemokines and Growth Factors in Niche Formation and Bone Metastasis., Center for Research in Anabolic Skeletal Targets in Health and Illness | |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Growth Factors in Prostate Cancer Bone Metastasis, MSK research discovery meeting at Orthopaedic Surgery Department, UNMC |
Honors, Awards, and Recognition
| TREC Fellow, Transdisciplinary Research Education Program in Energetics and Cancer | 2025 |
| Young Investigator Award, Society for Basic Urologic Research (SBUR) | 2024 |
| New Investigator Award, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha | 2023 |
| Young Investigator Award, American Association of Indian Scientists in Cancer Research (AAISCR), USA | 2021 |
| Outstanding performance award, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE | 2018 |
| Alice L. Jee Young Investigator Award, Orthopedic Research Society, USA | 2015 |
| Young Investigator Grant, British Bone Research and ASBMR | 2015 |
| Best Oral presentation, British Bone Research meeting, Edinburg, Scotland | 2015 |
| Eight Fellows Forum on Metabolic Bone Diseases, Endocrine Fellows Foundation , USA | 2014 |
| Young Investigator Travel Grant, The American Society of Bone and Mineral Research | 2014 |
| Recognized among the Top 10 Researchers in India in the field of Osteoporosis, Annals of Library and Information Studies | 2013 |
| Senior Research Fellowship, University Grant Commission (UGC), India | 2008 |
| Junior Research Fellowship, University Grant Commission (UGC), India | 2006 |
Professional Membership and Service
| NYU Center for Skeletal and Craniofacial Biology, Member | |
| Society for Basic Urologic Research, Member | |
| Cancer Center Research Institute (CCRI), Member | |
| American Society of Bone and Mineral research, Member | |
| The New York Academy of Science, Member | |
| The Endocrine Society, Fellow | |
| International Bone and Mineral Society, Member | |
| Endocrine Fellows Foundation, Member | |
| Indian Society of Bone and Mineral Research, Member |
Committee Service
| Coordinator of GU Cancer Focus Group, University of Mississippi Medical center, Coordinator | 2025 - Present |
| SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN THE HEALTH SCIENCES-CURRICULUM, Member | 2024 - Present |
| UNMC-BMB Annual Symposium, Task Force Member | 2022 - 2024 |
| Master’s Student Committee, UNMC-BMB, Member | 2022 - 2024 |
| 52nd Annual Midwest Student Biomedical Research Forum, Task Force Member | 2021 - Present |
| Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, Task Force Member | 2016 - 2017 |
| Postdoc Mentoring Committee, Member |
Other Service
| Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS | |
| GU Cancer Focus Group, University of Mississippi Medical center | |
| 01. Prostate Cancer Research, UK 02. NJDOH Cancer Program review 03. Qatar Foundation Study section 04. UNMC-Fellowship-Drug Development Study Section 05. UNMC-Fellowship- Community & Population Health/Nursing/Clinical & Translational Research 06. Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center (FPBCC) pilot project Study Section 07. Tumor Microenvironment Study Section (TME), National Institute of Health, NIH | |
| • Molecular cancer • Cancer Research • Advanced Science • Molecular Medicine • Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, Nutrition Research • Stem Cell Reviews and Reports • Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry • Menopause (The Journal of North American Menopause Society) • Journal of Nutritional Biology • Journal of Biology and Life Science • International Journal of Medical Education (IJME) • Plos One • Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research • Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics • Frontier in Endocrinology • Journal of Cellular Biochemistry • Medicine | |
| Nature-Springer Cellular Oncology on research Topic “Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis | |
| Frontiers in Oncology ‘Deciphering the Role of Signature Genes in Cancer Prognosis and Therapy Resistance’ 2025 | |
| Frontier in immunology, Cancer Immunity and Immunotherapy: research topic ‘Manipulation of immune‒vascular crosstalk in solid tumors | |
| Frontier in immunology: research topic ‘Bone metastasis in the milieu of Osteoimmunology 2022 | |
| Molecular and Cellular Oncology: Editing the research topic ‘Rising Stars in Molecular and Cellular Oncology 2021.’ | |
| Cancers: Editing the research topic ‘Breast Cancer and Brain Metastasis | |
| Seminars in cancer biology editing the special issue ‘Chemokines’ | |
| International Journal of Medical Science (IJMS): Editing the research topic ‘Chemokines and Cytokines Regulation of Bone Metastasis.’ | |
| Frontiers in Oncology and Frontier in Cell and Developmental Biology: Edited the research topic ‘Roles of Non-Coding RNAs in Tumor Growth and Development.’ |
Teaching Experience
| SOM615, Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer | Summer 2025 |
| CMB740, Graduate, Lab, Instructor | Annual 2025 |
Directed Student Learning
| Research Advisor, Advised: |
Fellows supervised
| Cancer Research, Research Advisor, 3 fellows supervised, Graduate student lab rotation (3) |