Monisankar Ghosh, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
Director of Stony Brook BioBank
Email: monisankar.ghosh@stonybrookmedicine.edu
Research Interests:
My research is dedicated to uncovering the molecular and immunological mechanisms that drive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) progression and resistance to therapy, with the overarching goal of translating these insights into new treatment strategies.
One of my major discoveries revealed that mutant p53 directly suppresses the cGAS/STING DNA sensing pathway, a central innate immune mechanism. This finding established a novel connection between oncogenic mutations and immune evasion, providing critical rationale for designing p53- and STING-targeted immunotherapies. In addition, I have made contributions to the field of cancer metabolism, including demonstrating how serine deprivation activates cGAS/STING signaling and elicits anti-tumor immune responses, and earlier studies that established how cancer-selective metabolic modulators and nano-formulations enhance efficacy while reducing chemotherapy-associated toxicity.
Building on this foundation, my current work focuses on Keratin 17 (K17), a cytoskeletal protein overexpressed in approximately half of PDACs and strongly associated with poor prognosis. We have shown that K17 drives chemoresistance, metastasis, and immune exclusion by altering the tumor microenvironment and blocking the infiltration of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T cells and M1 macrophages. My current research interest is to understand the cell-autonomous mechanism that shapes the tumor immune microenvironment for tumor progression. This work is now also advancing toward a K17-targeted vaccine strategy designed to promote immune-mediated clearance of pancreatic tumors.
Together, these efforts define a research program that bridges tumor biology, immunology, and metabolism to advance precision immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer and other aggressive malignancies.
Education:
2022: Postdoctoral Fellow in Cancer Cell Biology, Immunology, Stony Brook University, NY, USA
2017: PhD in Chemistry, CSIR- Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, India
2011: MS in Chemistry, Vidyasagar University, India
2009: BS in Chemistry, Vidyasagar University, India
Positions and Appointments:
2025 - Present: Research Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, NY, USA
2025 - Present: Director, Stony Brook Medicine BioBank, Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, NY, USA
Honors (selected):
2022 Gold Star Award for Excellence in Research Poster Presentation
2022 Abstract Winner for Short Talk Presentation
2014 Senior Research Fellowship, University Grant Commission (UGC), India
2011 Junior Research Fellowship, University Grant Commission (UGC), India
Publications:
List of Publications can be found here.