Dinesh Rao, M.D., Ph.D.

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A Short Biography:

Dinesh S. Rao received a B.S. summa cum laude in Biochemistry and an M.D. from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA. During this time he developed a deep interest in the pathogenesis of cancer, completing several projects in cancer research during medical school, and went on to a research fellowship at the University of Michigan. There, he made a seminal discovery implicating clathrin mediated trafficking of growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases in the pathogenesis of oncogenic transformation. He then combined clinical training in the pathology of hematologic diseases with further research training in the laboratory of Nobel laureate David Baltimore at Caltech. His research came to focus on the involvement of microRNAs in hematologic development, particularly B-cell development and immunity, and cancer, and resulted in several high-impact publications in well-regarded journals. His research interests include how microRNAs and other non-coding RNAs regulate hematopoietic development and cancer. He combines running a vibrant research laboratory with a busy diagnostic service in leukemia and lymphoma pathology.
Work Titles
UCLA Assistant Professor, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Assistant Professor, Hematopathology & Hematology Faculty, Cellular and Molecular Pathology PhD Program
Education:
Degrees:
M.D., Case Western Reserve University, 1996 - 2000
Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, 2010
B.S., Case Western Reserve University, 1991 - 1995
Academic Experience:
2000 - 2003 University of Michigan, Hematology and Oncology
Certifications:
Certifications:
2006 - 2006 American Board of Pathology
2005 American Board of Pathology
Honors and Awards:
2011 Tower Cancer Research Foundation, Irving Feintech Family Foundation Award
2011 Sidney Kimmel Foundation, Kimmel Scholar Award
2011 Stein-Oppenheimer Endowment, Stein-Oppenheimer Endowment
2007 American Society of Hematology, Joanne Levy, M.D. award for outstanding achievement
2003 UCLA, Daljit S. and Elaine Sarkaria Fellow in Disease Research and Clinical Innovation
1995 Case Western Reserve University, Harland G. Wood Prize in Biochemistry
1994 Case Western Reserve University, Phi Beta Kappa

Contact Information:

Email Address:

drao@mednet.ucla.edu

Work Email Address:

drao@mednet.ucla.edu


Website:

Laboratory

Fax Number:

310-825-0814

Lab Number:

310-825-2548

Office Phone Number:

310-825-1675

Laboratory Address:

650 Charles E. Young Drive
Los Angeles , CA 90095


Office Address:

700 Tiverton Ave.
Factor Bldg 12-272
Los Angeles, CA 90095


Work Address:

BOX 951732, Factor 12-272
Los Angeles, CA 90095


Publications:

Palanichamy Jayanth Kumar, Tran Tiffany M, Howard Jonathan M, Contreras Jorge R, Fernando Thilini R, Sterne-Weiler Timothy, Katzman Sol, Toloue Masoud, Yan Weihong, Basso Giuseppe, Pigazzi Martina, Sanford Jeremy R, Rao Dinesh S   RNA-binding protein IGF2BP3 targeting of oncogenic transcripts promotes hematopoietic progenitor proliferation The Journal of clinical investigation, 2016; 126(4): 1495-511.
Wallace Jared, Hu Ruozhen, Mosbruger Timothy L, Dahlem Timothy J, Stephens W Zac, Rao Dinesh S, Round June L, O'Connell Ryan M   Genome-Wide CRISPR-Cas9 Screen Identifies MicroRNAs That Regulate Myeloid Leukemia Cell Growth PloS one, 2016; 11(4): e0153689.
Rodríguez-Malavé Norma I, Rao Dinesh S   Long noncoding RNAs in hematopoietic malignancies Briefings in functional genomics, 2016; 15(3): 227-38.
Fernando Thilini R, Rodriguez-Malave Norma I, Waters Ella V, Yan Weihong, Casero David, Basso Giuseppe, Pigazzi Martina, Rao Dinesh S   LncRNA Expression Discriminates Karyotype and Predicts Survival in B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia Molecular cancer research : MCR, 2015; 13(5): 839-51.
Rodríguez-Malavé Norma I, Fernando Thilini R, Patel Parth C, Contreras Jorge R, Palanichamy Jayanth Kumar, Tran Tiffany M, Anguiano Jaime, Davoren Michael J, Alberti Michael O, Pioli Kimanh T, Sandoval Salemiz, Crooks Gay M, Rao Dinesh S   BALR-6 regulates cell growth and cell survival in B-lymphoblastic leukemia Molecular cancer, 2015; 14(4): 214.
Contreras Jorge R, Palanichamy Jayanth Kumar, Tran Tiffany M, Fernando Thilini R, Rodriguez-Malave Norma I, Goswami Neha, Arboleda Valerie A, Casero David, Rao Dinesh S   MicroRNA-146a modulates B-cell oncogenesis by regulating Egr1 Oncotarget, 2015; 6(13): 11023-37.
Palanichamy Jayanth Kumar, Rao Dinesh S   miRNA dysregulation in cancer: towards a mechanistic understanding Frontiers in genetics, 2014; 5(3): 54.
Fang Jing, Barker Brenden, Bolanos Lyndsey, Liu Xiaona, Jerez Andres, Makishima Hideki, Christie Susanne, Chen Xiaoting, Rao Dinesh S, Grimes H Leighton, Komurov Kakajan, Weirauch Matthew T, Cancelas Jose A, Maciejewski Jaroslaw P, Starczynowski Daniel T   Myeloid malignancies with chromosome 5q deletions acquire a dependency on an intrachromosomal NF-κB gene network Cell reports, 2014; 8(5): 1328-38.
Hu Ruozhen, Kagele Dominique A, Huffaker Thomas B, Runtsch Marah C, Alexander Margaret, Liu Jin, Bake Erin, Su Wei, Williams Matthew A, Rao Dinesh S, Möller Thomas, Garden Gwenn A, Round June L, O'Connell Ryan M   miR-155 promotes T follicular helper cell accumulation during chronic, low-grade inflammation Immunity, 2014; 41(4): 605-19.
Balazs Alejandro B, Ouyang Yong, Hong Christin M, Chen Joyce, Nguyen Steven M, Rao Dinesh S, An Dong Sung, Baltimore David   Vectored immunoprophylaxis protects humanized mice from mucosal HIV transmission Nature medicine, 2014; 20(3): 296-300.
Balazs Alejandro B, Bloom Jesse D, Hong Christin M, Rao Dinesh S, Baltimore David   Broad protection against influenza infection by vectored immunoprophylaxis in mice Nature biotechnology, 2013; 31(7): 647-52.
Zhao Jimmy L, Rao Dinesh S, O'Connell Ryan M, Garcia-Flores Yvette, Baltimore David   MicroRNA-146a acts as a guardian of the quality and longevity of hematopoietic stem cells in mice eLife, 2013; 2(7): e00537.
Pigazzi Martina, Manara Elena, Bresolin Silvia, Tregnago Claudia, Beghin Alessandra, Baron Emma, Giarin Emanuela, Cho Er-Chieh, Masetti Riccardo, Rao Dinesh S, Sakamoto Kathleen M, Basso Giuseppe   MicroRNA-34b promoter hypermethylation induces CREB overexpression and contributes to myeloid transformation Haematologica, 2013; 98(4): 602-10.
Hur Eun Mi, Patel Sonal N, Shimizu Saki, Rao Dinesh S, Gnanapragasam Priyanthi N P, An Dong Sung, Yang Lili, Baltimore David   Inhibitory effect of HIV-specific neutralizing IgA on mucosal transmission of HIV in humanized mice Blood, 2012; 120(23): 4571-82.
O'Connell Ryan M, Rao Dinesh S, Baltimore David   microRNA regulation of inflammatory responses Annual review of immunology, 2012; 30(2): 295-312.
Fernando Thilini R, Rodriguez-Malave Norma I, Rao Dinesh S   MicroRNAs in B cell development and malignancy Journal of hematology & oncology, 2012; 5(11): 7.
Chaudhuri Aadel A, So Alex Yick-Lun, Mehta Arnav, Minisandram Aarathi, Sinha Nikita, Jonsson Vanessa D, Rao Dinesh S, O'Connell Ryan M, Baltimore David   Oncomir miR-125b regulates hematopoiesis by targeting the gene Lin28A Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2012; 109(11): 4233-8.
Balazs Alejandro B, Chen Joyce, Hong Christin M, Rao Dinesh S, Yang Lili, Baltimore David   Antibody-based protection against HIV infection by vectored immunoprophylaxis Nature, 2011; .
O'Connell Ryan M, Zhao Jimmy L, Rao Dinesh S   MicroRNA function in myeloid biology Blood, 2011; 118(11): 2960-9.
Boldin Mark P, Taganov Konstantin D, Rao Dinesh S, Yang Lili, Zhao Jimmy L, Kalwani Manorama, Garcia-Flores Yvette, Luong Mui, Devrekanli Asli, Xu Jessica, Sun Guizhen, Tay Jia, Linsley Peter S, Baltimore David   miR-146a is a significant brake on autoimmunity, myeloproliferation, and cancer in mice The Journal of experimental medicine, 2011; 208(6): 1189-201.
Zhao Jimmy L, Rao Dinesh S, Boldin Mark P, Taganov Konstantin D, O'Connell Ryan M, Baltimore David   NF-{kappa}B dysregulation in microRNA-146a-deficient mice drives the development of myeloid malignancies Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2011; 108(22): 9184-9.
O'Connell Ryan M, Kahn Daniel, Gibson William S J, Round June L, Scholz Rebecca L, Chaudhuri Aadel A, Kahn Melissa E, Rao Dinesh S, Baltimore David   MicroRNA-155 promotes autoimmune inflammation by enhancing inflammatory T cell development Immunity, 2010; 33(4): 607-19.
O'Connell Ryan M, Balazs Alejandro B, Rao Dinesh S, Kivork Christine, Yang Lili, Baltimore David   Lentiviral vector delivery of human interleukin-7 (hIL-7) to human immune system (HIS) mice expands T lymphocyte populations PloS one, 2010; 5(8): .
Rao Dinesh S, O'Connell Ryan M, Chaudhuri Aadel A, Garcia-Flores Yvette, Geiger Theresa L, Baltimore David   MicroRNA-34a perturbs B lymphocyte development by repressing the forkhead box transcription factor Foxp1 Immunity, 2010; 33(1): 48-59.
O'Connell Ryan M, Chaudhuri Aadel A, Rao Dinesh S, Gibson William S J, Balazs Alejandro B, Baltimore David   MicroRNAs enriched in hematopoietic stem cells differentially regulate long-term hematopoietic output Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2010; .
O'Connell Ryan M, Rao Dinesh S, Chaudhuri Aadel A, Baltimore David   Physiological and pathological roles for microRNAs in the immune system Nature reviews. Immunology, 2010; 10(2): 111-22.
O'Connell Ryan M, Chaudhuri Aadel A, Rao Dinesh S, Baltimore David   Inositol phosphatase SHIP1 is a primary target of miR-155 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2009; 106(17): 7113-8.
Pullarkat Sheeja T, Vardiman James W, Slovak Marilyn L, Rao Dinesh S, Rao Nagesh P, Bedell Victoria, Said Jonathan W   Megakaryocytic blast crisis as a presenting manifestation of chronic myeloid leukemia Leukemia research, 2008; 32(11): 1770-5.
Baltimore David, Boldin Mark P, O'Connell Ryan M, Rao Dinesh S, Taganov Konstantin D   MicroRNAs: new regulators of immune cell development and function Nature immunology, 2008; 9(8): 839-45.
O'Connell Ryan M, Rao Dinesh S, Chaudhuri Aadel A, Boldin Mark P, Taganov Konstantin D, Nicoll John, Paquette Ronald L, Baltimore David   Sustained expression of microRNA-155 in hematopoietic stem cells causes a myeloproliferative disorder The Journal of experimental medicine, 2008; 205(3): 585-94.
Rao Dinesh S, Said Jonathan W   Small lymphoid proliferations in extranodal locations Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine, 2007; 131(3): 383-96.
Rao Dinesh S, Gui Dorina, Koski Michelle E, Popoviciu Laura M, Wang Hejing, Reiter Robert E, Said Jonathan W   An inverse relation between COX-2 and E-cadherin expression correlates with aggressive histologic features in prostate cancer Applied immunohistochemistry & molecular morphology : AIMM / official publication of the Society for Applied Immunohistochemistry, 2006; 14(4): 375-83.
Pham Peter H, Rao Dinesh S, Vasunilashorn Fah, Fishbein Michael C, Goldin Jonathan G   Computed tomography calcium quantification as a measure of atherosclerotic plaque morphology and stability Investigative radiology, 2006; 41(9): 674-80.
Kaluza Vesna, Rao Dinesh S, Said Jonathan W, de Vos Sven   Primary extranodal nasal-type natural killer/T-cell lymphoma of the brain: a case report Human pathology, 2006; 37(6): 769-72.
Rao Dinesh S, Infeld Michael D, Stern Robert C, Chelimsky Thomas C   Cough-induced hemiplegic migraine with impaired consciousness in cystic fibrosis Pediatric pulmonology, 2006; 41(2): 171-6.
Rao Dinesh S, Goldin Jonathan G, Fishbein Michael C   Determinants of plaque instability in atherosclerotic vascular disease Cardiovascular pathology : the official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Pathology, 2006; 14(6): 285-93.
Hyun Teresa S, Rao Dinesh S, Saint-Dic Djenann, Michael L Evan, Kumar Priti D, Bradley Sarah V, Mizukami Ikuko F, Oravecz-Wilson Katherine I, Ross Theodora S   HIP1 and HIP1r stabilize receptor tyrosine kinases and bind 3-phosphoinositides via epsin N-terminal homology domains The Journal of biological chemistry, 2004; 279(14): 14294-306.
Oravecz-Wilson Katherine I, Kiel Mark J, Li Lina, Rao Dinesh S, Saint-Dic Djenann, Kumar Priti D, Provot Melissa M, Hankenson Kurt D, Reddy Venkat N, Lieberman Andrew P, Morrison Sean J, Ross Theodora S   Huntingtin Interacting Protein 1 mutations lead to abnormal hematopoiesis, spinal defects and cataracts Human molecular genetics, 2004; 13(8): 851-67.
Rao Dinesh S, Bradley Sarah V, Kumar Priti D, Hyun Teresa S, Saint-Dic Djenann, Oravecz-Wilson Katherine, Kleer Celina G, Ross Theodora S   Altered receptor trafficking in Huntingtin Interacting Protein 1-transformed cells Cancer cell, 2003; 3(5): 471-82.
Rao Dinesh S, Hyun Teresa S, Kumar Priti D, Mizukami Ikuko F, Rubin Mark A, Lucas Peter C, Sanda Martin G, Ross Theodora S   Huntingtin-interacting protein 1 is overexpressed in prostate and colon cancer and is critical for cellular survival The Journal of clinical investigation, 2002; 110(3): 351-60.
Rao, D. S. Chang, J. C. Kumar, P. D. Mizukami, I. Smithson, G. M. Bradley, S. V. Parlow, A. F. Ross, T. S.   Huntingtin interacting protein 1 Is a clathrin coat binding protein required for differentiation of late spermatogenic progenitors, Molecular and Cellular Biology, 2001; 21(22): 7796-806.

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