Rishi Kumar Mishra, PhD

Metastasis, the spread of cancer cells from primary tumors to healthy tissues, accounts for over 90% of cancer-related deaths. A protein called dynein is crucial for cell movement and research indicates that inhibiting dynein can reduce breast cancer cell spread. Typically, dynein moves toward the cell nucleus along microtubules from the plus-end (typically near the cell periphery) to the minus-end (usually near nucleus). However, during cell migration, dynein congregates at the microtubule’s plus-end by a process that is poorly understood. Dr. Mishra aims to establish the molecular mechanism underlying dynein’s localization at the plus-end of the microtubule. This understanding will help elucidate how dynein facilitates cell migration and metastasis, potentially leading to new cancer treatment strategies applicable to various cancer types. Dr. Mishra received his PhD from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, and his BS from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.