Neelam Sharma-Walia

Dr. Neelam Sharma-Walia is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, with appointments in both the Chicago Medical School and School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Her research bridges virology and cancer biology, focusing on Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) pathogenesis and inflammatory breast cancer (IBC).

Dr. Sharma-Walia's research interests include:

• Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) biology and pathogenesis
• Arachidonic acid metabolism and inflammatory pathways in viral infection
• Role of anti-inflammatory lipoxins in controlling viral replication
• Tumor microenvironment in inflammatory breast cancer
• Cell signaling pathways in cancer and viral malignancies

Her laboratory has made significant discoveries showing that KSHV infection hijacks proinflammatory pathways while suppressing anti-inflammatory lipoxin production. Importantly, her team demonstrated that lipoxin analogs can downregulate viral gene expression and reduce survival of infected cells, suggesting promising therapeutic approaches for KSHV-associated malignancies. In inflammatory breast cancer research, her work examines how the tumor microenvironment contributes to the aggressive nature of this disease.

Dr. Sharma-Walia has received recognition for her work, with one publication highlighted as a 'must read' article by faculty of 1000. Her research has resulted in numerous publications in high-impact journals including Journal of Virology, Oncotarget, and Frontiers in Immunology.

Dr. Sharma-Walia maintains active research collaborations and has mentored numerous students and postdoctoral fellows. Her interdisciplinary approach provides valuable training at the intersection of virology, immunology, and cancer biology.