Dr. Jawed A. Siddiqui named new assistant professor in the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology

Dr. Jawed A. Siddiqui, a Cancer Center and Research Institute (CCRI) member, recently joined the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, as an assistant professor.

Previously, he served as an assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). Siddiqui’s research objectives center on musculoskeletal and oncology research in the areas of drug discovery, molecular biology, and bone metastasis. Currently, his work aims to develop bone-targeted therapeutics to address the metastasis of prostate and breast cancer, which represents a critical medical need. Additionally, he has extensive experience in bone metastasis and in developing genetically engineered mouse models for various malignancies. This expertise was central to his work at UNMC, where his lab was dedicated to studying bone metastasis in cancer.

“I am excited to begin my new work as an investigator at the Cancer Center Research Institute, where I will have the opportunity to explore deeper into the complex pathways involved in cancer metastasis,” said Siddiqui. “Our goal is to target critical processes involved in bone metastasis, including tumor seeding, dormancy, and outgrowth. We are particularly interested in how metastatic tumors interact with bone-resident macrophages, known as Osteomacs, and evade the immune system at metastatic sites.”

Siddiqui’s groundbreaking research has earned him several prestigious awards, including the Alice L. Jee Young Investigator Award from the Orthopedic Research Society (USA), the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research Young Investigator Grant from the British Bone Society, and the New Investigator Award from UNMC. His scientific work has resulted in numerous patents that have directly contributed to industry commercialization. Additionally, he has received the Prostate Cancer Research Program Idea Development Award from the Department of Defense, the METAvivor Metastatic Cancer Grant, and the American Cancer Society Grant for his studies on cancer metabolism and metastasis.

Siddiqui holds a Ph.D. in endocrinology/bone biology from Central Drug Research Institute in Lucknow, India. He also completed postdoctoral training at the University of California, San Diego, and New York University. This advanced training paved the way for his significant scientific contributions, including research on how parathyroid hormone (PTH) stimulates bone cells. PTH is essential for regulating calcium homeostasis in the body, helping to prevent the degradation of calcium within bone matrices.

“I am committed to advancing cutting-edge research that will lead to novel treatment and make a significant impact in the fight against cancer,” said Siddiqui.