Advancing Diagnostic Competencies to Improve Patient Outcomes
About Our Lab
Our mission is to improve patient outcomes by investigating biomarkers associated with debilitating diseases and advancing their applications in diagnostics and therapeutics. By focusing on these biomarkers, we aim to predict, identify, understand, and guide the treatment of diseases. To achieve these goals, we analyze human biological fluids and tissue samples. We apply both established and novel bioanalytical technologies to identify and validate key biomarkers. Additionally, we employ in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo experimental models to uncover molecular mechanisms and discover potential therapeutic targets.
Current projects
Translational Biomarker Discovery and Validation
We are developing robust bioanalytical methodologies and statistically validated, combinatorial platforms that can identify and validate biomarkers as potential diagnostic candidates and/or therapeutic targets. Our ongoing investigations focus on renal diseases, diabetes, and cardiometabolic kidney syndrome.
Aligned with our mission to advance scientific discoveries from the bench to the clinic, the SIDD Clinical Laboratory—an integral part of the Mukherjee Lab—is leading efforts to transition biomarker-based tests into CLIA-compliant laboratory-developed tests (LDTs). This UTMB-wide initiative is a SIDD-led collaboration involving scientists, clinicians, and laboratory services. Our current pipeline includes tests targeting kidney diseases and cardiometabolic kidney syndrome.
Dr. Kamalika Mukherjee earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the State University of New York at Binghamton, where she developed innovative chemical biology technologies to address key questions in anti-cancer drug discovery and development. She continued her research in the Nephrology Division at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Department of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, first as a Research Fellow and then as an Instructor. Her work there centered on identifying and validating biomarkers and therapeutic targets, as well as proposing innovative treatment strategies for kidney and metabolic diseases.
Currently, Dr. Mukherjee serves as the Associate Director of Assay Development and Principal Investigator at the Sealy Institute for Drug Discovery (SIDD) at UTMB, where she also leads the SIDD Clinical Laboratory. Her current research focuses on developing diagnostic and therapeutic approaches based on disease-associated biomarkers. Her scientific pursuits are inspired by her passion for translating research insights into clinical solutions that improve patient outcomes.
Dr. Mukherjee is equally passionate about empowering the next generation of scientists to achieve their professional goals.
Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a risk factor for kidney diseases. In addition to suPAR, proteolysis of membrane-bound uPAR results in circulating D1 and D2D3 proteins. We showed that when exposed to a high-fat diet, transgenic mice expressing D2D3 protein developed progressive kidney disease marked by microalbuminuria, elevated serum creatinine, and glomerular hypertrophy. D2D3 transgenic mice also exhibited insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus evidenced by decreased...
Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a risk factor for kidney diseases. In addition to suPAR, proteolysis of membrane-bound uPAR results in circulating D1 and D2D3 proteins. We showed that when exposed to a high-fat diet, transgenic mice expressing D2D3 protein developed progressive kidney disease marked by microalbuminuria, elevated serum creatinine, and glomerular hypertrophy. D2D3 transgenic mice also exhibited insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus evidenced by decreased...
Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a risk factor for kidney diseases. In addition to suPAR, proteolysis of membrane-bound uPAR results in circulating D1 and D2D3 proteins. We showed that when exposed to a high-fat diet, transgenic mice expressing D2D3 protein developed progressive kidney disease marked by microalbuminuria, elevated serum creatinine, and glomerular hypertrophy. D2D3 transgenic mice also exhibited insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus evidenced by decreased...
Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a risk factor for kidney diseases. In addition to suPAR, proteolysis of membrane-bound uPAR results in circulating D1 and D2D3 proteins. We showed that when exposed to a high-fat diet, transgenic mice expressing D2D3 protein developed progressive kidney disease marked by microalbuminuria, elevated serum creatinine, and glomerular hypertrophy. D2D3 transgenic mice also exhibited insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus evidenced by decreased...
Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a risk factor for kidney diseases. In addition to suPAR, proteolysis of membrane-bound uPAR results in circulating D1 and D2D3 proteins. We showed that when exposed to a high-fat diet, transgenic mice expressing D2D3 protein developed progressive kidney disease marked by microalbuminuria, elevated serum creatinine, and glomerular hypertrophy. D2D3 transgenic mice also exhibited insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus evidenced by decreased...
Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a risk factor for kidney diseases. In addition to suPAR, proteolysis of membrane-bound uPAR results in circulating D1 and D2D3 proteins. We showed that when exposed to a high-fat diet, transgenic mice expressing D2D3 protein developed progressive kidney disease marked by microalbuminuria, elevated serum creatinine, and glomerular hypertrophy. D2D3 transgenic mice also exhibited insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus evidenced by decreased...
