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Headshot of Leela Rani Avula

Leela Rani Avula, Ph.D.

Program Director, Nanodelivery Systems and Devices Branch
Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD)
Cancer Imaging Program (CIP)
240-276-5164
|
Leelarani.avula@nih.gov

Dr. Avula serves as a Program Director for NCI's Nanodelivery Systems and Devices Branch (NSDB). She manages nanotechnology projects and grants, participates in the development of new initiatives, and evaluates the effectiveness of programs within the Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer. 

Prior to joining the NSDB in 2021, Dr. Avula served as a Program Analyst in NCI's Office of Training and Education (OTE) and Center for Cancer Training (CCT). She has worked on programmatic, policy, review, analytical, and organizational responsibilities to help advance NCI's mission. Dr. Avula also served as a Cancer Research Training Award (CRTA) Postdoctoral Fellow in the Laboratory of Molecular Biology at the NCI's Center for Cancer Research (CCR). In this role, she worked on uncovering the pathophysiological and mechanistic role of mesothelin in the process of development of pancreas cancer peritoneal metastasis. 

Dr. Avula received her Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Antwerp, Belgium. Her thesis work focused on the role of a novel G-protein-coupled receptor subfamily (Mas-related G-protein-coupled receptors) in neuro-immune interaction in intestinal inflammatory disorders.

Dr. Avula received The Fellows Award for Research Excellence (FARE) Award at NIH in the Tumor Biology and Metastasis study section in 2020.

Selected Publications

  1. AVULA, L. R. & GRODZINSKI, P. "Nanotechnology-aided advancement in the combating of cancer metastasis", Cancer Metastasis Rev, 41, 383-404, 2022
  2. AVULA, L. R., HAGERTY, B. & ALEWINE, C. "Molecular mediators of peritoneal metastasis in pancreatic cancer", Cancer Metastasis Rev, 39, 1223-1243, 2020
  3. AVULA, L. R., RUDLOFF, M., EL-BEHAEDI, S., ARONS, D., ALBALAWY, R., CHEN, X., ZHANG, X. & ALEWINE, C. "Mesothelin enhances tumor vascularity in newly forming pancreatic peritoneal metastases", Mol Cancer Res, 18, 229-239, 2020
  4. AVULA, L. R., BUCKINX, R., FAVOREEL, H., COX, E., ADRIAENSEN, D., VAN NASSAUW, L. & TIMMERMANS, J. P. "Expression and distribution patterns of Mas-related gene receptor subtypes A-H in the mouse intestine: inflammation-induced changes", Histochem Cell Biol, 139, 639-58, 2013

 

 

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