Molecular Biomarker Research

Anand Hardikar

BSc, MSc, PhD
Anand is a researcher trained in molecular biology and (epi)genetics, currently focusing on three distinct areas related to i) islet cell biology, ii) cellular physiology and epigenetics, and iii) biomarkers of diabetes progression. Anand received PhD for his work in pancreas regenerative biology and undernutrition at the National Center for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune, India and the WHO collaborating center, UCL, Belgium. He trained in cellular and molecular biology at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, Philadelphia as well as the NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda. Anand started his group in 2006 at the NCCS, India, and then migrated to Australia (Melbourne) in 2009. Within Australia, he has worked at the University of New South Wales (post-doc with Bernie Tuch), the O’Brien Institute, University of Melbourne and the NHMRC Clinical Trials Center, University of Sydney, before joining the Western Sydney University. Over these years of training and an independent career, he has maintained a very high research profile with an ARC Australian Future Fellowship (2012-16), the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Australia clinical research network (CRN) fellowship (CDA; 2017-2022), Dozor Fellowship (Ben Gurion University; 2019) and visiting Professorship in Denmark (Danish Diabetes Academy; 2016-2018 and 2019-2022) and India (2019-). Currently, he leads research in microRNA-based biomarkers in T1D (through an NHMRC Ideas grant; 2022-2024), islet transplantation and T1D therapy (JDRFI, UCSF) and a JDRFA/Helmsley Trust-funded research grant on developing a nanotechnology-/photonics-based test for T1D microRNAs. Anand is a Professor at the Western Sydney University School of Medicine, where he heads the Diabetes and Islet Biology Group and is affiliated with the Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Western Sydney University. He is also an executive member of SPHERE DOM CAG and works closely with clinician-researchers and academics within the Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism Translational Research Unit.
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Our research -

What do we do?
We profile biologically relevant molecules that are either enriched in or specific for a particular disease. Examples of the biomarkers that we are interested in include minimally invasive biomarkers; non-coding RNAs (microRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs...), mRNAs, cfDNA, epigenetic modifications, telomeric DNA and related molecules, and non-invasive biomolecules related to human disease/ pathological conditions that enable population screening and risk-stratification of individuals progressing to clinical diagnosis of a disease.
How do we do?
Scientific methodologies include unprejudiced discovery analyses followed by validation and prediction in a larger number (and often an ethnically diverse set) of clinical/biological samples. We use bulk- or sc-RNA-sequencing, targeted sequencing, or high-density TaqMan-qPCR-based approaches for discovery. Through our collaborators and industry partners, we also have the capabilities to profile biomolecules using technologies that enable large-scale (population) screening at costs that are significantly lower than most conventional technologies.
Who may benefit?
Ultimate goal of our research is to advance the understanding of human biomarkers, to reveal their potential as predictors of future health and/or mediators/ regulators of future disease. Our research aims to generate high-dimensional characterization of human pathophysiological conditions over time, engaging ML/AI-based approaches to help individuals and families of those living with type 1 diabetes (T1D), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and Gestational diabetes (GDM). We also research areas of neonatal health, pregnancy Cx, and infective pathologies.

Selected current projects -

  • Five of the research projects that I lead through the WSU in collaboration with key investigators/partners (listed in parentheses).
  • A microRNA NanoChip Technology for Predicting Childhood Type 1 Diabetes Risk (with Prof. Jenny Couper, Dr. Megan Penno, Dr. Mugdha Joglekar and our industry partner Sognef Inc.)
  • The DREAM-Nano Study. Developing a Robust and Efficient Analytical Method for Diabetes Progression using Nanotechnology (with Prof. Vipul Bansal, A/Prof Ravi Shukla and Prof. Arnan Mitchell)
  • PREDICT T1D : Plasma RNA Evaluation for Diagnosis of Islet Cell death and progression To Type 1 Diabetes (several collaborators including Prof. Flemming Pociot, Prof. Ronald Ma, Prof. Ranjan Yajnik, Dr Kristina Rother, Prof. James Shapiro, Prof. Tim Jones, Prof. Liz Davies, Prof. Louise Dalgaard and others, with our industry partner AlgoAnalytics Inc.).
  • MicroRNA analyses in the Mechanistic Studies of Adult Participants in phase 2 new-onset T1DM imatinib trial (Gleevec trial lead: Prof. Stephen Gitelman)
  • Circulating microRNA biomarkers in early childhood and adolescence - associations to adult pre-diabetes (with Prof. Ranjan Yajnik)

Recent publications by subject areas:

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