Meera Srivastava

Dr. Meera Srivastava is a Research Professor in the Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) in Bethesda, MD. She has been with USUHS since 1996, initially as an Associate Professor and since 2002 as a Research Professor.

Dr. Srivastava completed her educational training in India, earning a BS in Chemistry from Madras University in 1972, an MS in Biochemistry in 1974, and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi in 1980. Her academic journey included positions at Auburn University, Georgetown University, and the NIH before joining USUHS.

Dr. Srivastava's research has focused extensively on the molecular basis of calcium signaling processes, with particular emphasis on the ANX7 (Annexin 7) gene as a tumor suppressor. Her work spans multiple disease areas including prostate and breast cancers, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and inflammation. She has made significant contributions to understanding how ANX7 functions as a tumor suppressor, discovering that approximately 30% of human prostate and breast tumor cells exhibit loss of heterozygosity or complete loss of ANX7 alleles. Her expertise extends to genomic cDNA array technology, which she developed for studying cystic fibrosis and various tumor cell lines.

Dr. Srivastava's publication record demonstrates a trajectory from fundamental biochemical studies of membrane proteins to translational research with clinical implications. Her early work focused on cytochrome b561 and nucleolin gene characterization, while her later research centered on the ANX7 gene's role in cancer biology. Her work spans multiple disciplines including molecular biology, oncology, and pulmonology, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to biomedical research.

• Co-author of patent on ANX7 gene with Dr. Pollard
• Co-author of patent for drug development related to ERG fusion gene in prostate cancer
• 90 peer-reviewed articles in prestigious journals including PNAS and Journal of Biological Chemistry
• First author on the first paper demonstrating the power of antibody microarrays for identifying serum biomarkers

Dr. Srivastava has held positions at several prestigious institutions including the Indian Institute of Technology, Georgetown University, and the National Institutes of Health. Her technical expertise includes cDNA microarrays, protein arrays, and antibody microarrays. She has collaborated extensively with Dr. Pollard and other colleagues at USUHS on research related to kidney graft rejection, cancer, cystic fibrosis, inflammation, post-traumatic syndrome, and major depressive disorder.

Dr. Srivastava leads research focused on molecular mechanisms of disease, particularly examining how gene expression and signaling pathways contribute to conditions like cancer and cystic fibrosis. Her work bridges basic science and clinical applications, with potential therapeutic implications for multiple disease states.