Ansu Perekatt

Ansu Perekatt is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at the Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering and Science, Stevens Institute of Technology. His research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of cell-fate plasticity in intestinal cancers, particularly how tumor-initiating cells persist and cause relapse.

Dr. Perekatt's research centers on colon cancer stem cells and tumor relapse mechanisms. He investigates cell-fate plasticity that allows colon tumor cells to become cancer stem cells, using mutant mouse models and intestinal organoid cultures. His work elucidates the molecular basis of how tumor-initiating cells persist, with a focus on genes like SMAD4, to develop therapies targeting relapse.

Analysis of Dr. Perekatt's publications (2018-2024) reveals a focus on SMAD4's role in intestinal cancer. Studies employ molecular biology, mouse models, and organoids to examine dedifferentiation, fibrosis, and wound healing. Key findings show SMAD4 suppresses WNT-driven oncogenesis and modulates fibrotic responses, suggesting therapeutic avenues for preventing colon cancer relapse.

Dr. Perekatt has received the following scientific awards:

• Gallow Award for Outstanding Cancer Research from The Cancer Institute of New Jersey and the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research (NJCCR) (2014, 2016, 2018)

Dr. Perekatt leads a research laboratory focused on colon cancer mechanisms. He has secured a K22 Career Transition Award from NCI/NIH ($486,000, 2018-2022) to support his work on tumor-initiating cells. His institutional service includes committees for Shared Research Facility, Faculty Advisory Council, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, and animal facility expansion. He serves as peer-reviewer for Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Scientific Reports, and PLOS ONE.

His research team employs a combination of in vivo mouse models and ex vivo intestinal organoid cultures to investigate molecular mechanisms of cell-fate plasticity. The lab operates within Stevens Institute of Technology's Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and maintains collaborations with the Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) and AACR.