Professor Abhimanyu Veerakumarasivam

Abhi

Professor Abhimanyu Veerakumarasivam

  • Provost
  • Professor of Genetics

Biography

Professor Abhi Veerakumarasivam is a University of Cambridge- trained geneticist, educator and science communicator. Before taking on his current role as the Provost of ºìÐÓÊÓƵ University, he was the Dean of the School of Medical and Life Sciences.

His research in genetics involves the elucidation of components of the regulatory pathways that drive tumour recurrence and invasion as well as dissecting Asian genetic variations that confer differences in disease- risk and response to therapy. In recognition of his achievements, he has been awarded multiple awards including the National Cancer Council Malaysia Cancer Research Award, the Study UK Alumni Award (Science and Sustainability), and the Merdeka Award Grant as well as listed in the Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow List. He is the first Asian to be crowned as the Best Science Communicator at the International FameLab Finals at the Cheltenham Science Festival, UK.

He was the inaugural Chair of the International Network for Government Science Advice Asia that supports the use of scientific evidence in informing policy at all levels of government. As Chair of the Young Scientists Network-Academy of Sciences Malaysia and Co-Chair of the ASEAN Young Scientists Network, he championed various national and regional initiatives to support mid- and early career researchers to drive academic excellence and contribute towards nation-building through STEM promotion and advocacy. He sits on various national and regional science and educational policy committees and has co-authored various policy papers and reports, including the Malaysian Higher Education Blueprint 2025-2035. He co-initiated and led Malaysia’s first nationwide programme on Responsible Conduct of Research to create awareness and educate the Malaysian scientific community on the importance of research integrity and currently is a member of the National Committee on Research Integrity.

Abhi truly believes that the greatest challenges facing us in the 21st century can only be addressed through interdisciplinary approaches that promote humanity-centric research impact and communication, holistic education programmes that inculcate ethical values and an entrepreneurial mindset, and policies that support the translation of scientific discoveries and sustainability-driven technologies to improve the health of the planet and promote social justice.

Academic & Professional Qualifications

  • PhD (Oncology & Genetics), University of Cambridge, UK (2009)

Research Interests

  • Medical genetics
  • Cancer genetics
  • Research ethics (responsible conduct of research)
  • Science leadership
  • Science communication

Notable Publications

  1. Mokhtaruddin, N. S. M., Yusof, E. N. M., Ravoof, T. B., Tiekink, E. R., Veerakumarasivam, A., & Tahir, M. I. M. (2017). Unusual saccharin-N, O (carbonyl) coordination in mixed-ligand copper (II) complexes: Synthesis, X-ray crystallography and biological activity. Journal of Molecular Structure, 1139, 1-9.
  2. Vellasamy, S., Tong, C. K., Azhar, N. A., Kodiappan, R., Chan, S. C., Veerakumarasivam, A., & Ramasamy, R. (2016). Human mesenchymal stromal cells modulate T-cell immune response via transcriptomic regulation. Cytotherapy, 18(10), 1270-1283.
  3. Zamanian, M., Hamadneh, L. A. Q., Veerakumarasivam, A., Rahman, S. A., Shohaimi, S., & Rosli, R. (2016). Calreticulin mediates an invasive breast cancer phenotype through the transcriptional dysregulation of p53 and MAPK pathways. Cancer Cell International, 16(1), 56.
  4. Gurung, P., Veerakumarasivam, A., Williamson, M., Counsell, N., Douglas, J., Tan, W. S., Feber, A., Crabb S. J., Short S. C., Freeman, A, Powles, T., Hoskin, P. J., West, C. M., & Kelly, J. D. (2015). Loss of expression of the tumour suppressor gene AIMP3 predicts survival following radiotherapy in muscle_invasive bladder cancer. International Journal of Cancer, 136(3), 709-720.
  5. Hayami, S., Yoshimatsu, M., Veerakumarasivam, A., Unoki, M., Iwai, Y., Tsunoda, T., Field, H. I., Kelly, J. D., Neal, D. E., Yamaue, H., Ponder, B. A., Nakamura, Y., & Hamamoto, R. (2010). Overexpression of the JmjC histone demethylase KDM5B in human carcinogenesis: involvement in the proliferation of cancer cells through the E2F/RB pathway. Molecular Cancer, 9(1), 59.
  6. Aitchison, A. A., Veerakumarasivam, A., Vias, M., Kumar, R., Hamdy, F. C., Neal, D. E., & Mills, I. G. (2008). Promoter methylation correlates with reduced Smad4 expression in advanced prostate cancer. The Prostate, 68(6), 661-674.
  7. Saeb-Parsy, K., Veerakumarasivam, A., Wallard, M. J., Thorne, N., Kawano, Y., Murphy, G., Neal, D.E., Mills, I. G., & Kelly, J. D. (2008). MT1-MMP regulates urothelial cell invasion via transcriptional regulation of Dickkopf-3. British Journal of Cancer, 99(4), 663.
  8. Veerakumarasivam, A., Goldstein, L. D., Saeb-Parsy, K., Scott, H. E., Warren, A., Thorne, N. P., Mills, I.G., Venkitaraman, A., Neal, D.E., & Kelly, J. D. (2008). AURKA overexpression accompanies dysregulation of DNA-damage response genes in invasive urothelial cell carcinoma. Cell Cycle, 7(22), 3525-3533.
  9. Veerakumarasivam, A., Scott, H. E., Chin, S. F., Warren, A., Wallard, M. J., Grimmer, D., Ichimura, K., Caldas, C., Collins, V. P., Neal, D. E., & Kelly, J. D. (2008). High-resolution array-based comparative genomic hybridization of bladder cancers identifies mouse double minute 4 (MDM4) as an amplification target exclusive of MDM2 and TP53. Clinical Cancer Research, 14(9), 2527-2534.
  10. Vias, M., Burtt, G., Culig, Z., Veerakumarasivam, A., Neal, D. E., & Mills, I. G. (2007). A role for neurotensin in bicalutamide resistant prostate cancer cells. The Prostate, 67(2), 190-202.