Raja S. Rachakatla, PhD

Assistant Professor

Work: 660.626.2468
Fax: 660.626.2346
Email Address: rrachakatla@atsu.edu

Research Interests: Transplantation of stem cells in various cancer disease models to evaluate their selective engraftment and targeted therapeutic potential. To develop animal models of various cancer diseases to understand the pathology of those diseases, and to evaluate the potential of various therapeutic agents including stem cells. To improve and develop transplantation techniques using sophisticated imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, and computed tomagraphy.

Education:

PhD - Kansas State University (2007)
BVSc - (equivalent to DVM): College of Veterinary Sciences, Acharya N.G. Rnga Agricultural University, Hyderabad, India (2001)

Scholarly Activity

Research Publications:

2016 | Hassan SS, Rachakatla R, McGarvey T, Youakeem MF. Morphological changes in the salivary acini after in vivo cholinergic stimulation. Neurourol Urodyn. 2016 Jun;35(5):574-81. doi: 10.1002/nau.22768. Epub 2015 Mar 25

2012 | Reeds KB, Higginbotham ML, McCaw DL, Rachakatla R, Gwi MS, Pyle M, Goad CL, Troyer DL.In vitro effects of canine Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stromal cells and micellar nanoparticles on canine osteosarcoma D17 cell viability. J Vet Sci Technol. 2012 3(5):1

2012 | Shrestha TB, Seo GM, Basel MT, Kalita M, Wang H, Villanueva D, Pyle M, Balivada S, Rachakatla RS, Shinogle H, Thapa PS, Moore D, Troyer DL, Bossmann SH. Stem cell-based photodynamic therapy. Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2012 Jul;11(7):1251-8. doi: 10.1039/c2pp05417e. Epub 2012 May 8

2012 | Seo GM, Rachakatla RS, Balivada S, Pyle M, Shrestha TB, Basel MT, Myers C, Wang H, Tamura M, Bossmann SH, Troyer DL. A self-contained enzyme activating prodrug cytotherapy for preclinical melanoma. Mol Biol Rep. 2012 Jan;39(1):157-65. Epub 2011 May 13

2011 | Maurya DK, Doi C, Pyle M, Rachakatla RS, Davis D, Tamura M, Troyer D. Non-random tissue distribution of human naïve umbilical cord matrix stem cells. World J Stem Cells. 2011 Apr 26;3(4):34-42

2010 | Rachakatla RS, Balivada S, Seo GM, Myers CB, Wang H, Samarakoon TN, Dani R, Pyle M, Kroh FO, Walker B, Leaym X, Koper OB, Chikan V, Bossmann SH, Tamura M, Troyer DL. Attenuation of mouse melanoma by a/c magnetic field after delivery of bi-magnetic nanoparticles by neural progenitor cells. ACS Nano. 2010 Dec 28;4(12):7093-104. Epub 2010 Nov 8

2010 | Balivada S, Rachakatla RS, Wang H, Samarakoon TN, Dani RK, Pyle M, Kroh FO, Walker B, Leaym X, Koper OB, Tamura M, Chikan V, Bossmann SH, Troyer DL. A/C magnetic hyperthermia of melanoma mediated by iron(0)/iron oxide core/shell magnetic nanoparticles: a mouse study. BMC Cancer. 2010 Mar 30;10:119

2010 | Matsuzuka T, Rachakatla RS, Doi C, Maurya DK, Ohta N, Kawabata A, Pyle MM, Pickel L, Reischman J, Marini F, Troyer D, Tamura M. Human umbilical cord matrix-derived stem cells expressing interferon-beta gene significantly attenuate bronchioloalveolar carcinoma xenografts in SCID mice. Lung Cancer. 2010 Oct;70(1):28-36. doi: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2010.01.003

2009 | Ayuzawa R, Doi C, Rachakatla RS, Pyle MM, Maurya DK, Troyer D, Tamura M. Naïve human umbilical cord matrix derived stem cells significantly attenuate growth of human breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Cancer Lett. 2009 Jul 18;280(1):31-7. Epub 2009 Mar 13

2009 | Rachakatla RS, Troyer D. Wharton's jelly stromal cells as potential delivery vehicles for cancer therapeutics. Future Oncol. 2009 Oct;5(8):1237-44. Review

2009 | Ganta C, Chiyo D, Ayuzawa R, Rachakatla R, Pyle M, Andrews G, Weiss M, Tamura M, Troyer D. Rat umbilical cord stem cells completely abolish rat mammary carcinomas with no evidence of metastasis or recurrence 100 days post-tumor cell inoculation. Cancer Res. 2009 Mar 1;69(5):1815-20. Epub 2009 Feb 24

2008 | Rachakatla RS, Pyle MM, Ayuzawa R, Edwards SM, Marini FC, Weiss ML, Tamura M, Troyer D. Combination treatment of human umbilical cord matrix stem cell-based interferon-beta gene therapy and 5-fluorouracil significantly reduces growth of metastatic human breast cancer in SCID mouse lungs. Cancer Invest. 2008 Aug;26(7):662-70

2005 | Weiss ML, Medicetty S, Bledsoe AR, Rachakatla RS, Choi M, Merchav S, Luo Y, Rao MS, Velagaleti G, Troyer D. Human umbilical cord matrix stem cells: preliminary characterization and effect of transplantation in a rodent model of Parkinson's disease. Stem Cells. 2006 Mar;24(3):781-92. Epub 2005 Oct 13

2007 | Rachakatla RS, Marini F, Weiss ML, Tamura M, Troyer D. Development of human umbilical cord matrix stem cell-based gene therapy for experimental lung tumors. Cancer Gene Ther. 2007 Oct;14(10):828-35. Epub 2007 Jun 29

2016 | Marolt C [student]*, Rachakatla RS. Using rabbit umbilical cord stem cells as vehicle to deliver anti-cancer drugs to treat pancreatic cancer. Poster presented at: Experimental Biology 2016; April 2-6, 2016; San Diego, CA. Abstract published in: FASEB J. 2016;30(1 suppl):1036.6.

2016 | Marolt CJ, Rachakatla RS. Preliminary Evaluation of Pancreatic Cancer in SCID Mice Models Treated with Rabbit Umbilical Cord Stem Cells Loaded with Interferon-β. Poster presented at the 8th Annual Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Conference; Kirksville, MO; November 5, 2016.

2015 | Rachakatla RS*, Perugino D. Rapid isolation of rabbit umbilical cord stem cells from rabbit umbilical cords and their early differentiation into chondrocytes. Poster presented at: Experimental Biology 2015; March 28-April 1, 2015; Boston, MA. Abstract published in: FASEB J. 2015;29(1 suppl):LB48.

2014 | Rachakatla RS, Johnson S, Marberry K. Platelet-Rich Plasma and Umbilical Cord Stem Cells as Treatments of Osteoarthritis of the Knee Joint. Poster presented at 6th Annual Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Conference; Kirksville, MO; November 1, 2014.

2013 | Rachakatla RS, Reuter A [student]. Neural Stem Cells Transduced with Adenovirus Interferon-Beta Prolonged Lives of MDA 231 Lung Tumor Bearing SCID Mice. Poster presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) International Conference on Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research; National Harbor, MD; September 21, 2013.

2013 | Rachakatla RS, Perugino D [student]. Isolation and Characterization of Umbilical Cord Stem Cells Derived from Rabbit Umbilical Cords. Poster presented at 5th Annual Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Conference; Kirksville, MO; November 2, 2013.

2012 | Davis K [student], Reuter A [student], Rachakatla RS. Umbilical Cord Matrix Stem Cells Trophic Ability and Use as a Drug Delivery Vehicle for Treatment of Melanomas. Experimental Biology, April 21-25, 2012, San Diego, California.

2012 | Reuter A [student], Davis K [student], Rachakatla RS. Using Neural Stem Cells as an Anti-Cancer Drug Delivery Vehicle for Treating Human Breast Cancer. Experimental Biology 2012, April 21-25, 2012, San Diego, California.

2012 | Reuter AM [student], Perugino DT [student], Hassan SS, Rachakatla RS. Neural Stem Cells Expressing Interferon-Beta Prolong Lives of MDA 231 Injected SCID Mice. Poster presented at 4th Annual Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Conference; Kirksville, MO; September 29, 2012.

2011 | Davis K [student], Reuter A [student], Rachakatla RS. Umbilical Cord Matrix Stem Cells as a Vehicle for Anti-Cancer Treatment for Melanoma. Presented a: t3rd Annual Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Symposium (IBRS-2011); AT Still-KCOM; Kirksville, MO; October 22, 2011.

2011 | Rachakatla RS, Davis K [student], Reuter A [student]. Umbilical Cord Matrix Stem Cells as an Anti-cancer Delivery Vehicle for Melanoma Treatment. Poster presented at 3rd Annual Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Conference; Kirksville, MO; October 22, 2011.

2011 | Rachakatla RS, Davis K [student], Reuter A [student]. Umbilical Cord Matrix Stem Cells (UCMSC) as Drug Delivery Vehicle for B16 Melanoma Treatment. Presented at: Cancer Conference 2011 (Zing Conferences); Xcaret, Mexico; November 9-13, 2011.

2011 | Reuter A [student], Davis K [student], Rachakatla RS. Using Neural Stem Cells as a Drug Delivery Vehicle for Human Breast Cancer. Presented at: 3rd Annual Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Symposium (IBRS-2011); AT Still-KCOM; Kirksville, MO; October 22, 2011.

2011 | Reuter A [student], Davis K [student], Rachakatla RS. Using Neural Stem Cells as a Drug Deliveray Vehicle for Human Breast Cancer. Poster presented at 3rd Annual Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Conference; Kirksville, MO; October 22, 2011.

2010 | Rachakatla RS, Balivada S, Seo G-M, Pyle M, Troyer DL. Neural Stem Cells Loaded with Magnetic Nanoparticles and Electromagnetic Hyperthermia Decreased the Tumor Burden in Tumor Bearing Mice. Presented at: New York Stem Cell Foundation's Fifth Annual Translational Stem Cell Research Conference; New York, NY; October 12-13, 2010.

Books, Chapters, and Reviews:

2011 | Tamura M, Troyer D, Maurya DK, Kawabata A, Rachakatla RS. Cytokines and Lung Cancer; In Cytokines (Ross J. Hunter, Ed); Science Publishers 2011; Pages 173–187.