Arati Sharma, PhD

Dr. Arati Sharma’s research program focuses on translational cancer therapeutics and drug development, with a major emphasis on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and treatment-resistant cancers. Her laboratory investigates molecular vulnerabilities that drive leukemia survival and therapeutic resistance, with current projects focused on ROCK/MRCK signaling, sphingolipid metabolism, mitochondrial and cell-survival pathways, and mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapies. The team develops and evaluates novel anticancer agents and rational combination strategies using cancer cell models, primary patient specimens, and clinically relevant cell line- and patient-derived xenograft models. Her research integrates target validation, pharmacology, drug delivery, PK/PD, efficacy, and safety studies to advance promising therapeutic approaches from laboratory discovery toward clinical translation. Through multidisciplinary collaborations with clinicians, medicinal chemists, pharmacologists, and cancer biologists, her program provides a strong environment for translational research and training. Dr. Sharma is also committed to teaching and mentoring future scientists and physicians, providing graduate and medical students with interdisciplinary training in cancer biology, pharmacology, experimental therapeutics, and preclinical drug development.