Chandrika G. Behura

Dr. Chandrika G. Behura is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology and Oncology at Penn State University College of Medicine. She is affiliated with the Penn State Cancer Institute and Penn State Neuroscience Institute, focusing on Cancer Institute, Next-Generation Therapies. As a board-certified hematologist/oncologist, she maintains clinical expertise in pediatric hematology/oncology with specific services including anemia, bleeding and clotting disorders, experimental therapeutics, hemolytic disease in newborns, immune thrombocytopenia, platelet disorders, thrombotic autoimmune disorders, brain tumors, hematologic malignancies, hemophilia, pediatric bone marrow transplantation, and sickle cell disease.

Dr. Behura's educational background includes:

• Medical School at Bangalore Medical College (2005)
• Residency in Pediatrics at Monmouth Medical Center (New Jersey) (2010)
• Fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center (2013)

Her research focuses on childhood cancer, particularly leukemia and neuroblastoma. Dr. Behura's major research project investigates the role of Ikaros tumor suppressor and pro-oncogenic casein Kinase II (CK2) in leukemogenesis and drug resistance. Her landmark 2015 publication in Blood established the novel approach of using specific CK2 inhibitors for treatment of high-risk B cell lineage leukemia using PDX models. She has presented her work at numerous national and international scientific forums and gained recognition as an outstanding young investigator. Her research is currently supported by several extramural grants, and she has authored multiple chapters and review articles related to leukemia, CK2, and Ikaros. Additional projects focus on designing novel therapeutic strategies for high-risk neuroblastoma, the most common abdominal solid tumor in young children with poor prognosis.

Her publication record shows consistent scholarly output with 21 research outputs between 2013-2024, including articles, review articles, letters, and book chapters. The research demonstrates a clear trajectory from foundational molecular work on CK2 and Ikaros to clinical applications and broader cancer epidemiology studies.

Dr. Behura has received significant recognition for her work:

• Distinguished Educator Award (2024)
• Outstanding Early-Stage Investigator Award (2018)
• Scholarship in Education Award (2022)

Her research is supported by multiple extramural grants, and she actively participates in the Clinician-Scientist Faculty Mentoring Program (FAME), which she co-developed to increase scholarly productivity and grant funding at Penn State. Dr. Behura collaborates extensively within Penn State's Cancer Institute and Neuroscience Institute, contributing to next-generation therapies research. Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being, particularly in advancing treatments for childhood cancers.