Dr. Raji Rajesh Lenin

Dr. Raji Rajesh Lenin

Assistant Professor
Department : Research
Email : rajil@srmist.edu.in
Dr. Raji Lenin’s research group is working on pathophysiology and therapeutic aspects of type 2 diabetes, with a focus on diabetic retinopathy (DR). Within two years of joining as Assistant Professor at SRM University, she has secured two significant, PI-driven projects. In her prestigious ICMR IIRP 2024 grant, Dr. Lenin is leading a collaborative effort with MDRF, Chennai, to explore early prediction of diabetic retinopathy (DR) using exosomal ncRNAs. Simultaneously, Dr. Lenin has also secured a grant from the Chellaram Diabetes Research Foundation (CDRF), Pune, to repurpose drugs for targeted delivery to the posterior segment of the eye, in collaboration with Manipal University, MAHE. Dr. Lenin leads a dynamic research team, consisting of two PhD scholars, dedicated to advancing the understanding of diabetes and ocular diseases.
Research & Publications :

Publications from SRMIST

  • Rajesh Lenin R*, Monickaraj F, Online Letters to the Editor titled “Diabetic Retinopathy Dilemma- Beyond the Surface”  (*First and Corresponding Author) (IF 6.2)
  • Santosh N, Harshitha V, Madhimitha H, Krithika R, Rajesh Lenin R* Deciphering the role of exosomal derived regulatory noncoding RNAs as potential biomarkers for diabetic retinopathy: a systematic review, International Journal of Retina and Vitreous, Dec 18 2024. (*Corresponding Author) (IF 2.9)
  • Sundaram SM, Rajesh Lenin R, Janardhanan R. FGF4 alleviates hyperglycemia in diabetes and obesity conditions. Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2023 Oct;34(10):583-585. (IF 5)
  • Rajesh Lenin R*, Koh YH, Zhang Z, Yeo YZ, Parikh BH, Seah I, Wong W, Su X. Dysfunctional Autophagy, Proteostasis, and Mitochondria as a Prelude to Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 May 15;24(10):8763. (*Corresponding Author) (IF 4.8)
  • Pandian U, Arun K, Rajesh Lenin R, Dev A, Kumar JS. Patterns of Cerebrovascular Accidents in Antiphospholipid Syndrome. July 24 2024; DOI: 7759/cureus.65243
  • Naveen V, Rajesh Lenin R, Stanley LM, Kumar JS. Serum Magnesium Levels and QTc Interval Prolongation as Prognostic Markers in Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized Controlled Study. Aug 03 2024; DOI: 7759/cureus.66051
  • Ajay D, Nanda Kumar R, Arun K, Sivan G, Rajesh Lenin R, Kumar JS. Correlation of Mean Platelet Volume and Red Cell Distribution Width with HbA1c and Its Association with Micro vascular Complications in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Tertiary Hospital in India. Cureus. Aug 04 2024; DOI: 7759/cureus.66139
  • Ramya Kiran N, Jayakumar KT, Rajesh Lenin R, Nikhil Kumar G, Kumar JS. Association of fibrinogen with HbA1C in diabetic foot ulcer. Aug 19 2024; DOI: 10.7759/cureus.6717

Publications during Postdoctoral Research

  • Michael OS, Kanthakumar P, Soni H, Lenin RR, Jha KA, Gangaraju R, et al. Urotensin II system in chronic kidney disease. Current Research in Physiology. 2024:100126.
  • Hart SN, Lenin RR, Sturgill J, Kern PA, Nikolajczyk B. Mitochondria-associated membranes are not altered in immune cells in T2D. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2024 Mar 29:2024.03.25.586170.
  • Lenin RR, Jha KA, Gentry J, Shrestha A, Culp EV, Vaithianathan T, Gangaraju R. Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid Alleviates Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Mediated Visual Deficits in Diabetic tie2-TNF Transgenic Mice via TGR5 Signaling. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2023 Mar;39(2):159-174.
  • SantaCruz-Calvo S, Bharath L, Pugh G, SantaCruz-Calvo L, Lenin RR, et al. Adaptive immune cells shape obesity-associated type 2 diabetes mellitus and less prominent comorbidities. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2022 Jan;18(1):23-42.
  • Jha KA, Pentecost M, Lenin RR, et al. TSG-6 in conditioned media from adipose mesenchymal stem cells protects against visual deficits in mild traumatic brain injury model through neurovascular modulation. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2019 Nov 5; 10(1):318.
  • Lenin RR, Nagy PG, Jha KA, et al. GRP78 translocation to the cell surface and OGlcNAcylation of VE-Cadherin contribute to ER stress-mediated endothelial permeability. Sci Rep. 2019 Jul 25; 9(1):10783.
  • Lenin RR, Thomas SM, Gangaraju R. Endothelial activation and Oxidative stress in neurovascular defects of retina. Curr Pharm Des. 2018;24(40):4742-4754.
  • Elshaer SL, Evans W, Pentecost M, Lenin RR, et al. Adipose stem cells and their paracrine factors are therapeutic for early retinal complications of diabetes in the Ins2 Akita mouse. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2018; 9(1):322.
  • Lenin RR, Nagy PG, Alli S, et al. Critical role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in chronic endothelial activation-induced visual deficits in tie2- tumor necrosis factor mice. J Cell Biochem. 2018; 119(10):8460-8471.
  • Lenin RR, Nagy PG, Gentry J, Gangaraju R. Featured Article: Deterioration of visual function mediated by senescence-associated endoplasmic reticulum stress in inflammatory tie2-TNF mice. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2018.
  • Jha KA, Pentecost M, Lenin RR, et al. Concentrated Conditioned Media from Adipose Tissue Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Mitigates Visual Deficits and Retinal Inflammation Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Int J Mol Sci. 2018; 19(7).

Publications during PhD

  • Balakumar M, Lenin RR, Prabhu D, et al. High-fructose diet is as detrimental as high-fat diet in the induction of insulin resistance and diabetes mediated by hepatic/pancreatic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Molecular and cellular biochemistry. 2016; 423(1-2):93-104.
  • Sathishkumar C, Prabu P, Balakumar M, Lenin RR, et al. Augmentation of histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) epigenetic signature at the interface of proinflammation and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes. Clin Epigenetics. 2016; 8:125.
  • Lenin RR, Sankaramoorthy A, Mohan V, Balasubramanyam M. Altered immunometabolism at the interface of increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in patients with type 2 diabetes. J Leukoc Biol. 2015; 98(4):615-22.
  • Lenin RR, Mohan V, Balasubramanyam M. SEAP activity serves for demonstrating ER stress induction by glucolipotoxicity as well as testing ER stress inhibitory potential of therapeutic agents. Mol Cell Biochem. 2015; 404(1-2):271-9.
  • Lenin RR, Maria MS, Agrawal M, Balasubramanyam J, Mohan V, Balasubramanyam M. Amelioration of glucolipotoxicity-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress by a "chemical 5 chaperone" in human THP-1 monocytes. Exp Diabetes Res. 2012; 2012:356487.
  • Balasubramanyam M, Lenin RR, Monickaraj F. Endoplasmic reticulum stress in diabetes: New insights of clinical relevance. Indian J Clin Biochem. 2010; 25(2):111-8.
  • Sameer MZ, Lenin RR, Saravanan T, Vaidya A, Mohan V, Balasubramanyam M. Gallic acid protects RINm5F beta-cells from glucolipotoxicity by its antiapoptotic and insulin secretagogue actions. Phytother Res. 2010; 24 Suppl 1: S83-94.