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Dr. Ikjot Singh Sohal

Assistant Professor

University of North Texas

Department of Biological Sciences

Email: Ikjot.Sohal@unt.edu

Education

  • PhD, University of Massachusetts Lowell, 2018
    Major: Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology

Professional Memberships

  • American Association for Cancer Research. (January 1, 2020 - Present).
  • International Society for Extracellular Vesicles. (May 29, 2019 - Present).

Development Activities

  • Workshop, Cultivating and Funding Your Research, University of North Texas. United States of America. (December 10, 2025).
  • Workshop, Developing Effective Specific Aims and Concept Papers, University of North Texas. United States of America. (December 2, 2025).
  • Workshop, Introduction to Proposal Development and Funding Tools, University of North Texas. United States of America. (November 4, 2025).
  • Workshop, Resources for Research Success, University of North Texas. United States of America. (October 14, 2025).

Teaching

Teaching Experience

    University of North Texas

  • BIOC 4570 - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Gene, 1 course.
  • BIOC 5340 - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Gene, 1 course.
  • BIOL 4570 - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Gene, 1 course.
  • BIOL 5340 - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Gene, 1 course.
  • BIOL 6940 - Individual Research, 1 course.

Directed Student Learning

  • Directed Individual/Independent Study, Biological Sciences. (October 1, 2025).

Awards and Honors

  • Outstanding Service and Engagement Award, Purdue Institute for Cancer Research. (2025).
  • Young Investigator Award, American Association of Indian Scientists in Cancer Research. (2025).
  • Employee Recognition Award, Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University. (2024).
  • Outstanding Postdoctoral Researcher Award, Purdue Institute for Cancer Research. (2024).
  • Purdue Postdoc Mentor Award, The Graduate School at Purdue University. (2023).
  • Purdue Postdoc Travel Grant, Purdue University. (2022).
  • Young Investigator Award, 7th Midwest Tumor Microenvironment Meeting. (2022).

Research

Published Intellectual Contributions

    Book Chapter

  • Liu, X., Zhang, B., Sohal, I., Bello, D., Chen, H. (2019). Is “nano safe to eat or not”? A review of the state-of-the art in soft engineered nanoparticle (sENP) formulation and delivery in foods. Advances in Food and Nutrition Research. 299-335. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.afnr.2019.03.004

    • Conference Proceeding

  • Mevaa, I.T., Abdelaal, A.M., Sohal, I., Iyer, S.G., Sudarshan, K., Kothandaraman, H., Landman, N.A., Low, P.S., Kasinski, A. (2025). Abstract 1864: Folate-mediated delivery of tumor-suppressive miRNA-34a to treat osteosarcoma. Other. 85 (8_Supplement_1) 1864-1864. https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.AM2025-1864
  • Waiker, D.K., Abdelaal, A.M., Iyer, S.G., Sohal, I., Orellana, E.A., Sudarshan, K., Ozcan, K.E., dos Santos, A.P., Low, P.S., Kasinski, A.L. (2025). Abstract 6700: Ligand-directed delivery of chemically modified miR-34a to prostate cancer: enhanced targeting and extended pharmacokinetics. Other. 85 (8_Supplement_1) 6700-6700. https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.AM2025-6700
  • Piltan, S., Hasan, H., Sohal, I., Pandey, A., Urdaneta, D., Lanman, N., Utturkar, S., Kasinski, A. (2025). Abstract 1192: Selective sorting of tumor suppressive and oncogenic miRNAs into extracellular vesicles: Implications for cancer progression. Other. http://dx.doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.am2025-1192
  • Sohal, I., Sydney Shaw, N..., Lauren Meeks, N..., Andrea Kasinski, L. (2025). Abstract 925: Golgi-derived extracellular vesicles lack conventional tetraspanins and mediate immune evasion in cancer. Other. http://dx.doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.am2025-925
  • Sohal, I., Shaw, S.N., Kasinski, A.L. (2023). Abstract 322: Electron microscopy using electron dense genetic tag elucidates novel extracellular vesicle biogenesis in non-small cell lung cancer. Other. 83 (7_Supplement) 322-322. https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.AM2023-322
  • Hasan, H., Lanman, N.A., Utturkar, S., Jauch, J.J., Sohal, I., Soto-Vargas, Z., Kasinski, A.L. (2023). Abstract 3761: Mediators of RNA sorting and export in non-small cell lung cancer derived extracellular vesicles. Other. 83 (7_Supplement) 3761-3761. https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.AM2023-3761
  • Iyer, S.G., Abdelaal, A.M., Sohal, I., Kasireddy, S.R., Kasinski, A.L. (2023). Abstract 3782: Targeting cancer cells using folate conjugated to a fully modified version of miR-34a (FolamiR-34a) to produce enhanced and sustained anti-tumor activity. Other. 83 (7_Supplement) 3782-3782. https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.AM2023-3782
  • Sohal, I., Abdelaal, A.M., Kasinski, A.L. (2022). Determining the intracellular fate of ligand-conjugated therapeutics using nanogold labeling. Other. https://publons.com/wos-op/publon/57616566/
  • Abdelaal, A.M., Kasireddy, S., Sohal, I., Low, P.S., Kasinski, A.L. (2022). Efficient targeting of prostate cancer using ligand conjugated and chemically modified tumor suppressive miRNA. Other. https://publons.com/wos-op/publon/57616563/
  • Vargas, Z.M., Sohal, I., Hasan, H., Arteaga, D., Kasinski, A.L. (2022). Abstract 1581: Uncovering mechanisms of biogenesis and secretion of small extracellular vesicles in non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Other. 82 (12_Supplement) 1581-1581. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.am2022-1581

    • Journal Article

  • Shreyas Iyer, G..., Sohal, I., Andrea Kasinski, L. (2025). Redesigning miR-34a: structural and chemical advances in the therapeutic development of an miRNA anti-cancer agent. Other. https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20253010
  • Abdelaal, A.M., Sohal, I., Iyer, S.G., Sudarshan, K., Orellana, E.A., Ozcan, K.E., Dos Santos, A.P., Low, P.S., Kasinski, A.L. (2024). Selective targeting of chemically modified miR-34a to prostate cancer using a small molecule ligand and an endosomal escape agent.. Other. 35 (2) 102193.
  • Ahmed Abdelaal, M..., Sohal, I., Iyer, S., Sudarshan, K., Kothandaraman, H., Nadia Lanman, A..., Philip Low, S..., Andrea Kasinski, L. (2023). A first-in-class fully modified version of miR-34a with outstanding stability, activity, and anti-tumor efficacy. Oncogene. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41388-023-02801-8
  • Dar, M.S., Mensah, I.K., He, M., McGovern, S., Sohal, I., Whitlock, H.C., Bippus, N.E., Ceminsky, M., Emerson, M.L., Tan, H.J., Hall, M.C., Gowher, H. (2023). Dnmt3bas coordinates transcriptional induction and alternative exon inclusion to promote catalytically active Dnmt3b expression. Other. 42 (7) 112863. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112863
  • Sohal, I., Kasinski, A.L. (2023). Emerging diversity in extracellular vesicles and their roles in cancer.. Frontiers in Oncology. 13 1167717.
  • Kaur, J., Sohal, I., Singh, H., Gupta, N.K., Sehrawat, S., Puri, S., Bello, D., Khatri, M. (2022). Toxicity screening and ranking of diverse engineered nanomaterials using established hierarchical testing approaches with a complementary in vivo zebrafish model. Other. 9 (8) 2726-2749. Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). https://doi.org/10.1039/d2en00265e
  • Pal, A.S., Agredo, A., Lanman, N.A., Son, J., Sohal, I., Bains, M., Li, C., Clingerman, J., Gates, K., Kasinski, A.L. (2022). Loss of KMT5C Promotes EGFR Inhibitor Resistance in NSCLC via LINC01510-Mediated Upregulation of MET. Other. 82 (8) 1534-1547. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-0821
  • Hasan, H., Sohal, I., Soto-Vargas, Z., Byappanahalli, A.M., Humphrey, S.E., Kubo, H., Kitdumrongthum, S., Copeland, S., Tian, F., Chairoungdua, A., Kasinski, A.L. (2022). Extracellular vesicles released by non-small cell lung cancer cells drive invasion and permeability in non-tumorigenic lung epithelial cells. Scientific Reports. 12 (1) Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-04940-6
  • Sohal, I., DeLoid, G.M., O'Fallon, K.S., Gaines, P., Demokritou, P., Bello, D. (2020). Effects of ingested food-grade titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide, iron (III) oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles on an in vitro model of intestinal epithelium: Comparison between monoculture vs. a mucus-secreting coculture model. Other. 17 100209. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.impact.2020.100209
  • Sohal, I., O’Fallon, K.S., Gaines, P., Demokritou, P., Bello, D. (2018). Ingested engineered nanomaterials: state of science in nanotoxicity testing and future research needs. Particle and Fibre Toxicology. 15 (1) Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12989-018-0265-1
  • Sohal, I., Cho, Y.K., O’Fallon, K.S., Gaines, P., Demokritou, P., Bello, D. (2018). Dissolution Behavior and Biodurability of Ingested Engineered Nanomaterials in the Gastrointestinal Environment. ACS Nano. 12 (8) 8115-8128. American Chemical Society (ACS). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.8b02978
  • DeLoid, G.M., Sohal, I., Lorente, L.R., Molina, R.M., Pyrgiotakis, G., Stevanovic, A., Zhang, R., McClements, D.J., Geitner, N.K., Bousfield, D.W., Ng, K.W., Loo, S.C., Bell, D.C., Brain, J., Demokritou, P. (2018). Reducing Intestinal Digestion and Absorption of Fat Using a Nature-Derived Biopolymer: Interference of Triglyceride Hydrolysis by Nanocellulose. ACS Nano. 12 (7) 6469-6479. American Chemical Society (ACS). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.8b03074

Presentations Given

    Oral Presentation

  • Sohal, I. (Author & Presenter), Purdue Biological Sciences Graduate Student Association Symposium, Novel Cell-to-Cell Crosstalk Biology in Lung Cancer and its Role in T-Cell Suppression, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States of America. (2023).
  • Sohal, I. (Author & Presenter), Purdue Cell and Molecular Biology Symposium, Unconventional extracellular vesicle biogenesis and its role in immune regulation in lung cancer, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States of America. (2023).

    • Professional Meeting Contribution

  • Sohal, I. (Chair), 8th Midwest Tumor Microenvironment Meeting, Engineering the tumor microenvironment, West Lafayette, IN, United States of America. (2023).

Contracts, Grants, Sponsored Research

    Grant - Research

  • Sohal, I. (Principal), "Evaluate the role of extracellular vesicles in tumor microenvironment modulation," sponsored by National Institute of Health, Federal, $148500 Funded. (2025 - 2027).
  • Sohal, I., "Indiana CTSI Postdoctoral Challenge for the use of Core Facilities," sponsored by Indiana Clinical & Translational Sciences Institute, State, $5000 Funded. (2023 - 2024).

Copyrights, Patents

    Patent

  • Kasinski, A., Abdelaal, A.M., Sohal, I., Fully modified mir-34a and related conjugates, compositions and methods of use, WO2024197262A1. Regular, Date Patent Approved: 2024. .

Service

Professional Service

  • Reviewer, Grant Proposal, Cancer Research Trust NZ. (October 17, 2025).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Journal of Medical Virology. (July 28, 2025).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, NanoImpact. (January 6, 2025).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Scientific Reports. (December 3, 2024).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Particle and Fiber Toxicology. (April 30, 2024).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, NanoImpact. (December 1, 2023).