Pradeep, Sunila, PhD

Pradeep, Sunila, PhD

Sunila Pradeep, PhD

Associate Professor

(414) 955-2673

Introduction

Dr. Sunila Pradeep is an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Medical College of Wisconsin. After receiving her Ph.D. in Immunology in 2007, Dr. Pradeep performed postdoctoral research at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel and previously served as an instructor at MD Anderson in Texas.

Since she arrived at the Medical College of Wisconsin in 2017, Dr. Pradeep and her lab have been utilizing a combination of biochemical, molecular, cellular, and genetic techniques to uncover features of the tumor microenvironment

that facilitate ovarian cancer metastasis and are vulnerable to targeted therapy. Specific projects that her group is currently working on include:

  1. Improving Immunotherapies Against Ovarian Cancer by Targeting Tumor-derived Extracellular Vesicles.

    While immunotherapies have transformed the way many different cancers are treated, a robust response has not been observed in ovarian cancer. Findings from our lab demonstrate that extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from tumor cells carry specific cargo that manipulates translational, metabolic and immune response mechanisms that produce an immune microenvironment favorable to ovarian cancer progression. Inhibition of EV release, the signaling molecules they carry, or the downstream pathways they influence deter ovarian tumor growth and improve immunotherapies’ efficacy in ovarian cancer model systems.

  2. Impact of the Tumor Microenvironment on DNA Methylation.

    Hypermethylation promotes oncogenesis by downregulating transcription of tumor suppressor genes, often under hypoxic tumor conditions. Yet, how the tumor microenvironment encourages excessive methylation of tumor suppressor gene promoters remains poorly understood. Current efforts are directed at characterizing the epigenetic targets and to understand how they contribute to chemoresistance and immunotherapy failure.

  3. Interrogating the role of the Tumor Derived Factors on Immune Responsiveness.

    Cancer development relies on a complex interaction between the tumor, stroma, and the immune system. We are exploring how immune cells influence tumor progression in ovarian cancer.

Publications

Research

Principal InvestigatorSponsorProject TitleAward Date
PI: Sonam Mittal, PhD; Co-PI: Pradeep, Sunila, PhDAdvancing Healthier Wisconsin (AHW) Exploring the Oncogenic Mechanisms of NAT10 in Ovarian Cancer1/1/202412/31/2024
Pradeep, Sunila, PhDF&MCW Cancer CenterHarnessing PD-L1 Expression in Ovarian Cancer ACS-Supplement 8/1/20227/31/2024
Pradeep, Sunila, PhDDepartment of Defense (DoD)Translational Adaptations in Macrophage for Ovarian Cancer Progression 7/01/2022 6/30/2024
Pradeep, Sunila, PhDNIH Cancer Institute (R01)Role of exosomal SPHK1 in ovarian cancer progression2/1/2022 1/31/2027
Pradeep, Sunila, PhDDepartment of Defense (DoD)Targeting Epigenomic Adaptations to Overcome Drug Resistance in Ovarian Cancer6/1/20215/31/2025

In the News