• Ph.D. in Biotechnology. Department of Biotechnology, Manasagangothri, University of Mysore. Mysore, INDIA. Jan/2002-2007
• Master of Science in Biochemistry. Department of Biochemistry, Manasagangothri, University of Mysore, Mysore, INDIA. May/1999-2001
• Bachelor of Science in Botany, Biochemistry, and Zoology (BBZ). Yuvaraj’s College, University of Mysore, Mysore, INDIA. Feb/1996-1999

• Associate Professor, Center for Research and Innovation, Department of Biotechnology,Adichunchanagiri School of Natural Science, Adichunchanagiri University, B G Nagara, Nagamagala, Karnataka 571448 December 2023- Till Dated
• Professor, Laboratory of Ocular Neurovascular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China. August 2016 – November 2023
• Research Fellow, Unit on Neuron-Glia Interactions in Retinal Disease (UNGIRD), National Eye Institute, National Institute of Health, Bldg. 6, Center Drive, 6/213, Bethesda, Maryland 20892. April 2013- 2015
• Postdoctoral Visiting Fellow, Unit on Neuron-Glia Interactions in Retinal Disease (UNGIRD), National Eye Institute, National Institute of Health, Bldg. 6, Center Drive, 6/213, Bethesda, Maryland 20892. April 2012-2013
• Postdoctoral Visiting Fellow, Unit on Retinal Vascular Neurobiology (URVN), National Eye Institute, NIH Feb 2008-2012

FELLOWSHIPS/AWARDS:

• Research fellow at Unit on Neuron-Glia Interactions in Retinal Disease (UNGIRD) from 2013-2015, National Eye Institute, NIH, Maryland, USA.
• Postdoctoral visiting fellow at Unit on Neuron-Glia Interactions in Retinal Disease (UNGIRD) from 2012-2013, National Eye Institute, NIH, Maryland, USA.
• Merit award from NEI/NIH April 23, 2010.
• Postdoctoral visiting fellow at Unit on Retinal Vascular Neurobiology (URNV) from 2008- 2012, National Eye Institute, NIH, Maryland, USA.
• DBT- Junior Research fellow 2003-2006 Department of Biotechnology, University of Mysore, INDIA.

1. Kumar A, Zhao L, Paul G M, Fariss R N, Wong W T. Interaction between resident macrophages and perivascular mural cells of the choroid: Relevance to pathological choroidal changes in retinal disease. (Manuscript under preparation)
2. Wang Q, Xiong Z, Li W, Huang L, Zhang J, Zhu J, Lee C, Li X & Kumar A. Sphingosine kinase -1 mediates retinal epithelial cell migration and inflammation in subretinal matrigel induced CNV. (Manuscript under preparation)
3. Zhu J, Xiong Z, Li X & Kumar A. Impact of PDGF-C in retinal diseases. (Manuscript under preparation)
4. Xiong Z, Wang Q, Li W, Huang L, Zhang J, Zhu J, Lee C, Li X, Kumar A. Critical role of PDGF-D induced SCD-1 in retinal degeneration and RPE lipid metabolism. (Manuscript under preparation)
5. Lee C, Chen R, Sun G, Liu X, Lin X, He C, Xing L, Liu L, Jensen L, Kumar A, Langer H, Ren X, Zhang J, Huang L, Yin X, Kim J, Zhu J, Huang G, Li J, Lu W, Chen W, Liu J, Hu J, Sun Q, Lu W, Fang L, Wang S, Kuang H, Zhang Y, Tian G, Mi J, Bi-Ang Kang, Narazaki M, Prodeus A, Schoonjans L, Ornitz D, Gariepy J, Eelen G, Dewerchin M, Yang Y, JingSong Ou, Mora A, Yao J, Zhao C, Liu Y, Carmeliet P, Li X, and Cao Y. VEGF-B binds to FGFR1 and FGFR2 and limits the angiogenic activity of FGF2. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy (Accepted for publication June13, 2023) (APIS-11.4) IF- 38.9
6. Xing L, Huang G, Chen R, Huang L, Liu J, Ren X, Wang S, Kuang H, Kumar A, Kim JK, Qin Jiang Q, Li X and Lee C. Critical role of mitogen-inducible gene 6 in restraining endothelial cell permeability to maintain vascular homeostasis. J Cell Commun Signal. 2022 Oct 25. doi: 10.1007/s12079-022-00704- (APIS-9.9) IF- 5.71
7. Xiong Z, Wang Q, Li W, Huang L, Zhang J, Zhu J, Xie B, Wang S, Kuang H, Lin X, Lee C, Kumar A, Li X. Platelet-Derived Growth Factor-D Activates Complement System to Propagate Macrophage Polarization and Neovascularization. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 Jun 2;9:686886. (APIS-23.1) IF- 6.68
8. Liu L, Xing L, Chen R, Zhang J, Huang Y, Huang J, Xie B, Ren X, Wang S, Kuang H, Lin X, Kumar A, Kim JK, Lee C, Li X. Mitogen-Inducible Gene 6 Inhibits Angiogenesis by Binding to SHC1 and Suppressing Its Phosphorylation. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 Feb 22;9:634242. (APIS-9.9) IF- 6.68
9. Li X, Kumar A and Carmeliet P. Metabolic Pathways Fueling the Endothelial Cell Drive. Annu Rev Physiol. 2019 Feb 10; 81:483-503. (APIS-11.4) IF- 19.32
10. Arjunan P, Lin X, Tang Z, Du Y, Kumar A, Liu L, Yin X, Huang L, Chen W, Chen Q, Ye Z, Wang S, Kuang H, Zhou L, Xu K, Chen X, Zeng H, Lu W, Cao Y, Liu Y, Zhao C, Li X. VEGF- B is a potent antioxidant. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 Oct 9;115(41):10351-10356. (APIS-11.4) IF- 11.20
11. Kumar A and Li X. PDGF-C and PDGF-D in ocular diseases. Mol Aspects Med. 2018 Aug; 62: 33-43. (APIS-26.6) IF- 14.23
12. Xu H, Zhang L, Chen W, Xu J, Zhang R, Liu R, Zhou L, Hu W, Ju R, Lee C, Lu W, Kumar A, Li X and Tang Z. Inhibitory Effect of Caveolin-1 in Vascular Endothelial Cells, Pericytes and Smooth Muscle Cells. Oncotarget. 2017 (APIS-5.4) IF- 3.76
13. Huang D, Zhao C, Ju R, Kumar A, Tian G, Huang L, Zheng L, Li X, Liu L, Wang S, Ren X, Ye Z, Chen W, Xing L, Chen Q, Gao Z, Mi J, Tang Z, Wang B, Zhang S, Lee C, Li X. VEGF- B inhibits hyperglycemia and Macugen induced retinal apoptosis. Sci Rep. 2016: May 18;6:26059. (APIS-8.4) IF- 5.13
14. Rebecca I. S, Frank R, Peter K, Kumar A, Mario L, Franziska T, Kerstin G, Tobias G, Axel B, Sebastian W, Lorraine O’R, Sven G. M, Klaus Schulze-O, Meinrad G, Li X, Christoph K, Frank E, Harald F. L. Platelets induce apoptosis via membrane-bound FasL. Blood. 2015: Sep 17;126 (12):1483-1493. (APIS-11.4) IF- 22.11
15. He C, Zhao C, Kumar A, Lee C, Chen M, Huang L, Wang J, Chen W, Wang B, Gao Z, Zhong Z, Zhang F, Huang B, Ding H, Ju R, Tang Z, Liu Y, Cao Y, Li X. Vasoprotective effect of PDGFCC mediated by HMOX1 rescues retinal degeneration. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA,14806– 14811,doi: 10.1073/pnas.140414011, 2014 (APIS-11.4) IF- 11.20
16. Kumar A, Zhao L, Paul G M, Fariss R N, Wong W T. Vascular associations and dynamic process motility in perivascular myeloid cells of the mouse choroid: implications for function and senescent change”. IOVS 55 (3), 1787–1796. 2014. (APIS-19.6) IF- 3.81
17. Condren A B , Kumar A, Mettu P, Liang K J, Zhao L, Jen-yue Tsai, Fariss R N, Wong W T. Perivascular Mural Cells of the Mouse Choroid Demonstrate Morphological Diversity That Is Correlated to Vasoregulatory Function. PLoS One.;8(1):e53386. doi: 10.1371/ journal. pone. 0053386. 2013. (APIS-8.4) IF- 3.24
18. Segarra M, Ohnuki H, Maric D, Salvucci O, Hou X, Kumar A, Li X, Tosato G. Semaphorin 6A regulates angiogenesis by modulating VEGF signaling. Blood. September 24, 2012. (APIS-11.4) IF- 22.11
19. Zhang F, Li Y, Kumar A, Tang Z, Lee C, Ma W, Langer H, Zhang L, Jensen L, Arjunan P, Strasser A, Wong W, Chavakis T, Cao Y, Li X. Proliferative and survival effects of PUMA promotes angiogenesis. Cell Reports, September 2012. (APIS-9.9) IF- 9.423
20. Li X, Kumar A, Zhang F, Lee C, Tang Z. Complicated life complicated VEGF-B. Trends Mol. Med. Feb 2012. (APIS-11.4) IF- 11.09
21. Li X, Kumar A, Lee C, Tang Z, Li Y, Arjunan P, Hou X, Zhang F. Can VEGF-B be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases? Neurodegenerative Diseases. ISBN: 978-953-307- 485-6 (Book chapter) Intech publication, 2011. (APIS-05)
22. Tang Z, Zhang F, Li Y, Arjunan P, Kumar A, Lee C, Li X. A mouse model of the cornea pocket assay for angiogenesis study. J Vis Exp. Aug 18; 54, 2011. Video journal. (APIS- 6.9) IF- 1.84
23. Tang Z, Zhang S, Lee C, Kumar A, Arjunan P, Li Y, Zhang F, Li X. An optic nerve crush injury murine model to study retinal ganglion cell survival. J Vis Exp. Apr 25; 50, 2011. Video journal (APIS-6.9) IF- 1.84
24. Li X, Kumar A, Zhang F, Lee C, Li Y, Tang Z, Arjunan P. VEGF-independent angiogenic pathways induced by PDGF-C. Oncotarget. 1(4):309-314, 2010. (APIS-5.4) IF- 3.76
25. Kumar A, Hou X, Li Y, Lee C, Maminishkis A, Tang Z, Zhang F, Arjunan P, Dong L, Wu Z, Zhu LY, Dong L, Colosi P, Li X. PDGF-DD targeting arrests pathological angiogenesis by modulating GSK3β phosphorylation. J Biol Chem. 285(20):15500- 15510, 2010. (APIS-23.1) IF- 5.15
26. Hou X, Kumar A, Lee C, Wang B, Arjunan P, Maminishkis A, Dong L, Tang Z, Li Y, Zhang F, Zhang S-H, Wang F, Wardega F, Wu Z, Fariss RN, Colosi P, Gutkind S, Cao Y, Lennartsson J, Li X. PDGF-CC blockade inhibits pathological angiogenesis by acting on multiple cellular and molecular targets. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 107(27):12216- 12221, 2010. (APIS-11.4) IF- 11.20
27. Tang Z, Arjunan P, Lee C, Li Y, Kumar A, Hou X, Wang B, Wardega P, Zhang F, Dong L, Zhang Y, Zhang S Z, Ding H, Fariss R, Becker K G, Lennartsson J, Nagai N, Cao Y, Li X. Survival effect of PDGF-CC rescues neurons from apoptosis in both brain and retina by regulating GSK3beta phosphorylation. J Exp Med, 207(4):867-880, 2010. (APIS- 11.4) IF- 14.30
28. Zhang F, Tang Z, Hou X, Lennartsson J, Li Y, Koch AW, Scotney P, Lee C, Arjunan P, Dong L, Kumar A, Rissanen TT, Wang B, Nagai N, Fons P, Fariss R, Zhang Y, Wawrousek E, Tansey G, Raber J, Fong GH, Ding H, Greenberg DA, Becker KG, Herbert JM, Nash A, Yla-Herttuala S, Cao Y, Watts RJ, Li X. VEGF-B is dispensable for blood vessel growth but critical for their survival, and VEGF-B targeting inhibits pathological angiogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. Apr 14; 106(15):6152- 6157, 2009. (APIS-11.4) IF- 11.20
29. Xuri Li, Chunsik Lee, Zhongshu Tang, Fan Zhang, Pachiappan Arjunan, Yang Li, Xu Hou, Anil Kumar and Lijin Dong. VEGF-B A survival or an angiogenic factor? Cell Adh Migr. Oct-Dec 2009; 3(4):322-7. (APIS-8.4) IF- 3.40
30. Anil Kumar. C, Nanjunda Swamy. S, Gaonkar. S. L, Basappa, Bharathi. P Salimath and Kanchugarakoppal S Rangappa. “N- substituted-2-butyl-5-chloro-3H- imidazole- 4carbaldehyde derivatives as anti-tumor agents against Ehrlich ascites tumor cells in vivo”. Medicinal Chemistry, 03, 269-276, 2007. (APIS-16.1) IF-2.74
31. Anil Kumar. C, Basappa, Bharathi. P Salimath and Kanchugarakoppal S Rangappa. “Proapoptotic activity of N- substituted-2-butyl-5-chloro-3H-imidazole-4- carbaldehyde derivatives mediated by activation of caspase activated DNase. Investigational New Drugs, DOI, 10.1007/s10637-006-9033-4, 2007. (APIS-19.6) IF- 3.85
32. Priya B.S., Anil Kumar C., Nanjunda Swamy S., Basappa, Naveen S., Shashidhara Prasad J and Rangappa K.S. “2-(2-(2-Ethoxybenzoylamino) -4- chlorophenoxy) -N- (2ethoxybenzoyl) benzamine inhibits EAT cell induced angiogenesis by down regulation of VEGF secretion”. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 17, 10, 2775-2780, 2007. (APIS-8.4) IF- 2.82
33.  

• PDGF-C and D induce pathological angiogenesis by instigating inflammation. PDGF symposium May 14-15, 2018, at the University of Louvain-UCL Brussels, Belgium. (APIS7)
• Effect of complement system in PDGF-D induced neurovascular inflammation. APVBO conference, NOV 18-19, 2017, at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China. (APIS-7)
• Interaction between resident macrophages and perivascular mural cells of the choroid: Relevance to pathological choroidal changes in retinal disease. May 28th, 2015, Laboratory of Ocular Neurovascular Biology, State key laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China. (APIS-7)
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