Dr. Shaik focusses on translational and clinical research in metastatic melanoma skin cancer with an aim to develop and improve early detection and therapy. He also works with clinicians within the department to develop novel technologies/therapeutics for skin and hair care.
Development of organotropic molecular signatures in primary melanoma
Metastatic melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer with a 5-year survival rate of 25% to 30%. Melanoma stages through radial and vertical growth phases before metastasizing. Metastasis is a complex, multi-step and highly inefficient process that involves escape of tumor cells from their primary site followed by growth in a new distant site. It is estimated that <0.02% of the disseminated tumor cells can successfully colonize and thrive at distant organs. Tumors that form metastases are thought to create a pre-metastatic niche at distant sites that act as a supportive microenvironment by acquiring organ-specific adaptations. The Shaik lab is exploring the hypothesis that melanoma cells acquire the adaptations necessary to grow in distant organs before breaking away from the primary site. The gene expression of primary melanoma cells will be analyzed using spatial transcriptomics, a novel and powerful technique developed to determine gene expression in cells within a complex tissue slide.
Predicting organ-specific melanoma metastasis
By generating a list of organotropic genes in primary melanoma, Dr. Shaik’s lab will apply machine learning models to predict organ-specific metastatic melanoma development. This will be a breakthrough metastasis prediction tool that can distinguish patient population at a greater risk for metastasis to a specific distant site during the early stages of primary melanoma.
Growth factors in platelet-rich plasma therapy for hair loss and skin rejuvenation
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) use in dermatology for skin rejuvenation and the treatment of hair loss or alopecia has increased exponentially over the last several years. Platelets in PRP following activation release hundreds of proteins including growth factors (GFs) that activate signaling pathways in target cells such as keratinocytes, dermal papilla cells, dermal fibroblasts and stem cells. This results in cellular proliferation, differentiation and migration of target cells along with matrix remodeling and angiogenesis. Due to a complex cocktail of GFs produced by platelets, several factors in PRP could have antagonistic effects and may impede clinical efficacy of PRP therapy. Dr. Shaik’s lab is analyzing the GF secretion by platelets in clinical samples of PRP to delineate a list of GFs that may promote or inhibit a therapeutic response. This information will lead to development of highly efficient novel technologies/therapeutics for skin and hair care.
Awards and Honors
Dermatology Foundation Research Career Development Award
American Skin Association Research Grant
Dermatology Foundation Research Grant
2012 Albert M. Klighman Travel Fellowship, Society of Investigative Dermatology
Outstanding Basic Science Research Project Award, Department of Dermatology, University of Minnesota
Selected Publications
- Meyeneobong Inyang, Javed A. Shaik, Noora Hussain, Maria Hordinski, Neil Sadick, Graham Gregorich, Jessica Asiala, Rebecca Freese, Ronda S. Farah. “Inconsistent Platelet-rich Plasma Product from FDA Cleared Devices”, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2021 September; 85(3):788-790.
- Javed A. Shaik, Nima Estharabadi, Ronda S. Farah, Maria K. Hordinsky. “Distinct Platelet Growth Factor Secretion Profile Among Alopecia Patients Undergoing Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy”, Experimental Dermatology, 2020 October; 29(10):1004-1011.
- Javed A. Shaik, Maria Hordinsky, Ronda Farah. “Biology of Platelet-Rich Plasma”, book chapter in Platelet-Rich Plasma in Dermatologic Practice. Edited by Neil S. Sadick, Springer Nature, 2021.
- Lalit K. Beura, Jason S. Mitchell, Emily A. Thompson, Jason M. Schenkel, Javed Mohammed, Sathi Wijeyesinghe, Raissa Fonseca, Brandon J. Burbach, Vaiva Vezys, Brian T. Fife, David Masopust. “Intravital mucosal imaging of resident memory CD8+ T cell shows tissue autonomous recall responses that amplify secondary memory” Nature Immunology, 2018 Feb; 19(2):173-182.
- Javed Mohammed, Lalit K. Beura, Aleh Bobr, Brian Astry, Brian Chicoine, Sakeen W. Kashem, Nathan E. Welty, Botond Z. Igyarto, Sathi Wijeyesinghe, Emily A. Thompson, Catherine Matte, Laurent Bartholin, Alesia Kaplan, Dean Sheppard, Allina G. Bridges, Warren Shlomchik, David Masopust, Daniel H. Kaplan. “Stromal cells control epithelial residence of DC and memory T cells by regulated activation of TGF-β” Nature Immunology, 2016 April;7(4):414-421.
- Sakeen W. Kashem, Botond Z. Igyarto, Maryam Gerami-Nejad, Yosuke Kumamoto, Javed Mohammed, Elizabeth Jarrett, Rebecca A. Drummond, Sandra M. Zurawski, Gerard Zurawski, Judith Berman, Akiko Iwasaki, Gordon D. Brown, Daniel H. Kaplan. 2014. “Candida albicans morphology and DC subsets determines T helper differentiation”, Immunity, 2015 Feb;42(2):356-366.
- Anand Ravindran, Javed Mohammed, Andrew Gunderson, Xiao Cui, Adam B. Glick. “Tumor Promoting Role of TGFβ1 Signaling in Ultraviolet B Induced Skin Carcinogenesis is Associated with Cutaneous Inflammation and Lymph Node Migration of Dermal Dendritic Cells”, Carcinogenesis, 2014 Apr;35(4):959-66.
- Andrew Gunderson, Javed Mohammed, Michael Podolsky, Frank Horvath, Cherie Anderson, Adam Glick. “CD8+ T cells promote RAS-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation through IFNγ”, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2013 Apr;133(4):955-63.
- Javed Mohammed, Andrew Gunderson, Lina Khong, Richard Koubek, Mark C. Udey, Adam Glick. “TGFβ1 Overexpression in Keratinocytes Alters Skin Dendritic Cell Homeostasis and Enhances Contact Hypersensitivity”, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2013 Jan;133(1):135-43.
- Javed Mohammed, Andrew Ryscavage, Rolando Perez-Lorenzo, Andrew Gunderson, Nicholas Blazanin, and Adam Glick. “TGFβ1 Induced Inflammation in Premalignant Epidermal Squamous Lesions Requires IL-17”, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2010 Apr:130; 2295-2303.
- Adam Glick, Rolando Perez-Lorenzo and Javed Mohammed. “Context Dependent Regulation of Cutaneous Immunological Responses by TGF-beta1 and its Role in Skin Carcinogenesis”, Carcinogenesis, 2008 29:9-14.
