Biography

Dr. Pillai’s ongoing translational clinical research utilizes novel research methodologies to target diseases that are of public health concern. She is actively participating in human clinical studies on various signaling pathways associated with major pathophysiological conditions prevalent within the U.S. population, especially obesity and chronic kidney disease, for developing therapeutic strategies and other translational applications. Her clinical studies have also supported the early preclinical diagnosis of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity among breast cancer patients in West Virginia. Her basic science research is mainly focused on adipocyte dysfunction and its contribution to the pathophysiology of chronic kidney diseases, cardiovascular dysfunction and neurodegeneration. Her past research has focused on the molecular cascades mediating diabetic stress signaling pathways and the possible application of phytomedicine to ameliorate these complications. She has been working in the field of biomedical and clinical biochemistry for over a decade. Her research works have been diverse and have a broad background in cell and molecular biology using various in vitro and in vivo experimental models.

Education & Training

• Graduate: University of Kerala (Thiruvananthapuram, India)
• Doctorate: University of Kerala (Thiruvananthapuram, India)
• Fellowship: Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine (Huntington, W.Va.)

Honors & Memberships

• Member, American Society of Nephrology