Sriram Neelamegham Named UB Distinguished Professor

Neelamegham is well published with over 100 research manuscripts, book chapters and patents in diverse areas related to Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering.

He has made pioneering contributions in studies that describe the molecular mechanisms by which white blood cells (leukocytes) and platelets in human blood, interact with other vascular cells in the context of human inflammatory diseases. He has also contributed to our understanding of the mechanisms by which fluid shear controls the structure of a large blood protein called von Willebrand factor. This is a critical glycoprotein that regulates the rates of thrombosis and vessel occlusion in the stenosed arterial circulation and in artificial implants. More recently, he is interested in developing and applying Systems Biology principles for the study of biosynthetic steps that regulate cellular glycosylation. In such studies, high-throughput experimentation and mathematical modeling is performed to understand the interplay between various enzymes as they regulate glycan biosynthesis. The laboratory is focused on translating their basic science findings for human health benefit by: i. developing small molecule antagonists that target glycosylation and prevent inappropriate leukocyte adhesion at sites of inflammation, ii. designing glycoengineering strategies to target stem cells to sites where therapy is required, and iii. developing new glycan-engineered therapeutics to enhance the half-life and efficacy of human blood proteins.

“Sriram has been crucial in building the strength of CBE’s bioengineering research activities. He is internationally recognized as a leader in glycobiology and vascular bioengineering, and it is wonderful to see him receive this well-deserved recognition,” says Mark Swihart, SUNY Distinguished Professor and Department Chair.

Neelamegham is a recipient of the NIH Independent Scientist award, 2015 State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities, 2018 Schoellkopf medal from the Western New York American Chemical Society and is an Elected Fellow of the American Institute of Biological and Medical Engineering (AIMBE, 2012). He has served on NIH advisory panels, editorial boards of various journals and is currently the lead facilitator developing the Symbol Nomenclature for Glycans (SNFG) at the NCBI-glycans resource.  Lesser known, perhaps, in the anatomy of viruses are a class of molecules called glycans.