Manikandan LAKSHMANAN

RESEARCH

Precision Oncology and Omics-Driven Translational Pharmacology
Our lab focuses on deciphering disease mechanisms and uncovering therapeutic vulnerabilities in cancer, fibrotic disorders, and inflammatory conditions. We integrate multimodal omics approaches, including spatial transcriptomics, whole-genome sequencing (WGS), whole-transcriptome sequencing (WTS), and proteomics, with advanced disease models such as patient-derived xenografts (PDXs, CDXs), and organoids. This integrated platform enables the identification of novel drug targets, elucidation of resistance mechanisms, and acceleration of biomarker discovery and therapeutic development.

Non-Animal Pharmacology and Safety Testing
Our team leads the development and application of human-relevant New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for non-animal assessment of pharmacological activity, efficacy, and safety. These innovative platforms are designed to enhance translational research in drug discovery and facilitate the evaluation of pesticides, cosmetics and novel food ingredients while significantly reducing reliance on animal testing.

• Developing splice-switching oligonucleotides for urea cycle disorder using an integrated diagnostic and therapeutic platform.
  Jin Rong Ow, Eri Imagawa, Feng Chen, Manikandan Lakshmanan, et al. (2025) 
  Journal of Hepatology. 2025.

• NFқB inducing Kinase (NIK) Inhibitors and methods thereof (WO2023177351A1)
  The present disclosure concerns compounds and methods thereof for treating proliferative diseases, fibrosis, inflammatory diseases and/or immune inflammatory 5 diseases. The present disclosure also concerns methods of inhibiting NF-κB-inducing kinase in a cell.