معرفی
Manoj M Pillai is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Hematology section at Yale School of Medicine. He holds primary and secondary appointments in Internal Medicine and Pathology, respectively, and is affiliated with the Yale Cancer Center, Center for RNA Science and Medicine, Yale Stem Cell Center, and the Yale Combined Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS). His work bridges clinical hematology and molecular research, focusing on RNA mechanisms in blood disorders.
- MBBS, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (1998)
- Residency, Baylor College of Medicine (2002)
- Fellowship, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center/University of Washington (2005)
- Instructor and Research Associate, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (2008)
Dr. Pillai's research centers on the role of RNA-binding proteins, non-coding RNAs, and spliceosome mutations in normal hematopoiesis and myeloid malignancies such as myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). His lab employs cutting-edge techniques like HITS-CLIP and RNA-Seq to dissect gene regulation in the bone marrow microenvironment and to uncover oncogenic mechanisms driven by mutations in SF3B1, SRSF2, and Musashi2. His work has revealed how splicing defects lead to transcriptional and epigenetic dysregulation, offering new therapeutic avenues.
His recent publications highlight a strong focus on RNA splicing defects, chromatin remodeling, immune evasion in AML, and translational control in leukemia. These studies demonstrate a consistent trend toward understanding molecular pathogenesis and identifying targetable vulnerabilities in myeloid cancers. His work has been published in high-impact journals such as Molecular Cell, Journal of Clinical Investigation, and Blood.
- Cancer Research Fellow of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
- Travel Grant, American Society of Hematology
- NIH/NCI Training Grant, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
- Sir Dorabji Tata Prize for Best Undergraduate in Biochemistry
- 8th position nationwide in All India Pre-Medical Examination
Dr. Pillai actively mentors students and researchers through the BBS program and leads the Pillai Lab, which investigates RNA biology in hematopoiesis and cancer. He receives research funding from NIH and other sources to support his work on splicing factors and leukemia. His lab collaborates extensively with experts in genomics, immunology, and cancer biology across Yale. He also provides clinical care to patients with leukemia and those undergoing stem cell transplantation at Yale New Haven Hospital.
His research team, the Pillai Lab, is located at 300 George Street, New Haven, and focuses on integrating systems biology approaches to understand and treat myeloid malignancies. The lab is part of a vibrant interdisciplinary ecosystem at Yale, including the Center for Biomedical Data Science and the Yale Cancer Center.
