Prashant Chandrasekharan PHD, PMP

Prashant is a highly accomplished, passionate, and amiable biomedical R&D expert with an entrepreneurial mindset, and global experience. His expertise lies in revolutionizing cancer care through the integration of nanotechnology, biotechnology, chemical engineering, and medical imaging. As a respected collaborator and servant leader, Prashant is noted for consistently exceeding expectations through optimized efficiencies and big-picture thinking. He is an innovator and experienced program/product manager, adept at effectively liaising between medical, engineering, scientific, and business sectors.

He began his professional career at A*STAR, Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research as a Research Fellow at the Bio-Imaging Consortium. In this capacity, he was working on three imaging projects as the investigator co-investigator in the Joint Council Office (JCO). He developed multimodal imaging tracers for coarse diagnosis and fine surgical intervention, and imaging technologies/imaging biomarkers for cancer theranostics and molecular imaging. In his work, Prashant utilized imaging technology for RECIST evaluation of novel drug therapeutics in oncology murine models. In addition, Prashant mentored a total of 10 students with graduate, undergraduate, and exchange visitor status.

In 2016, Prashant joined the University of California, Berkley, as the Project Scientist to spearhead the allocation and advancement of multimillion-dollar research funding. In this role, Prashant identified and developed FDA-compliant non-radioactive medical diagnoses through Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) diagnostic strategies and theranostic approaches. Transferred diagnostic protocols into commercialization and standardized therapy. In a multifaceted role, proactively focused on research and development of case products, research paper publishing, and submitting grant applications to ensure adequate program funding. 

Some of more notable accomplishments include the development of multiple MPI applications including: Non-invasive and non-radioactive GI bleed detection (Link);  Tobacco-related early lung cancer diagnosis (Link); Cancer treatment with magnetic fluid hyperthermia (Link); High-resolution nanoparticle tracers (US Patent, 2022/8/18, 17629301); Novel immune cell imaging strategies for antibody-conjugated nanoparticle-based diagnosis and treatment (Link). He also achieved the commercialization stage of a groundbreaking solid tumor diagnostics process, improving the treatment effectiveness by expanding options beyond the current immunotherapy. (Link)

Prashant holds a PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the National University of Singapore (Singapore) and a bachelor’s degree in BTech in Industrial Biotechnology from Anna University (Chennai). Certified project management professional (PMP) from the project management institute (PMI), he also holds a dual certification in Regulatory Affairs Certificate Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals from the regulatory affairs professional society (RAPS), and CITI Training in research conduct. 

A member of American Chemical Society (ACS), World Molecular Imaging Congress (WMIC), ISMRM (International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine), IEEE Society, Regulatory Affairs Member (RAPS), Member of Project Management Institute (PMI), Prashant has also received multiple international awards for his work, including Bakar Innovation Fellow, The American Association of Physicists in Medicine, ISMRM Magna Cum Laude Merit Award, First IEEE Middle East Conference student award on Biomedical Engineering (MECBME), Materials Science Research-Singapore, Trilateral Conference (MRS), and  The Innovative Student Project Award from the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE, 2006).