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Khandoker Usran Ferdous, PhD

Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences
Pharmacy

Education

Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm), North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Research or Areas of Specialty

My research focuses on cancer immunotherapy, oncolytic virotherapy, and tumor microenvironment modulation, with an emphasis on developing novel therapeutic strategies for pancreatic cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. I have experience in translational cancer research involving oncolytic viruses, immune checkpoint blockade, proteogenomics, molecular biology, cell culture, animal models, and biomarker discovery. My work integrates preclinical therapeutic development with mechanistic studies to improve anti-tumor immune responses and advance innovative treatments toward clinical translation. In addition to biomedical research, I am focusing on evidence-based teaching practices and innovative pedagogical approaches to improve student learning outcomes and educational effectiveness.

Recognitions

  • Fellows Award for Research Excellence (FARE), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute of Health (NIH) (2026)
  • Meritorious Abstract Travel Award, American Society for Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) (2025)
  • Predoctoral Pilot Grant, Cancer Therapeutics Program, UAMS (2024)
  • Travel Grant, Cancer Research Training & Education Core, UAMS (2024)
  • Best Poster Presenter Award, Surgery Research Symposium, UAMS (2024)
  • Travel Grant, HTRS Workshop, Hemostasis & Thrombosis Research Society (HTRS) (2023)
  • Fellowship, Temple University, Pennsylvania (2020)
  • Certificate of Appreciation for Excellence in Teaching and Service, Graduate Resources Enhancing Center (GREC), Bangladesh (2018)
  • Best Faculty Award, Graduate Resources Enhancing Center (GREC), Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Graduation with a distinction of Summa Cum Laude, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh (2017)
  • Second runners up, Pharma Fest Scientific Exhibition titled as The Hidden Truth of Drugs (2014)
  • Daily Prothom Alo Merit Award (2009)
  • DExSA Academic Excellence Award (2009)

Classes at PC

  • 5103 Medical Immunology
  • 6109 Pathophysiology II
  • 6110 Pharmacology/Med Chem
  • 7114 Pharmacogenomics

Organizations

  • Member, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (2026 – Present)
  • Member, Trainee Committee, American Society for Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) (2025 – Present)
  • Member, Trainee Programming Committee, Cancer Biology Training Consortium (2024)
  • Associate Member, American Society for Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) (2024 – Present)
  • Affiliate Member, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, UAMS (2024 –2025)
  • Member, Homeostasis & Thrombosis Research Society (HTRS) (2023 – Present)
  • Associate Member, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (2022 – Present)
  • Lead, Team 121, Scientific Stall Exhibition at Pharma Fest, North South University (2014)
  • Member, Pharmaceutical Club, North South University (2012 – 2016)

Certifications

  • Certification on Working with the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), CITI Program (2022)
  • Certification on Reducing Pain and Distress in Laboratory Mice and Rats, CITI Program (2022)
  • Certification on Laboratory Animal Handling Assessment Training, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (2022)

Publications

Enhancing Neoadjuvant Virotherapy’s Effectiveness by Targeting Stroma to Improve Resectability in Pancreatic Cancer — Biomedicines.

Polyphenolic Compounds of Amla Prevent Oxidative Stress and Fibrosis in the Kidney and Heart of 2K1C Rats — Food Science & Nutrition.

Multimodal Reprogramming of the Tumor Microenvironment by MMR and Dual Checkpoint Blockade in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Models — Frontiers in Immunology.

In vivo Safety and Immunoactivity of Oncolytic Jurona Virus in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Comprehensive Proteogenomic Analysis — bioRxiv (Preprint).

Enhancing Immune Response and Survival in Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Novel Oncolytic Jurona Virus and Immune Checkpoint Blockade — Molecular Therapy: Oncology.

Pancreatic Tumor Microenvironment Reprogramming via Alloantigen-Expressing Virotherapy Elicits Tumor Rejection and Improves Immunotherapy Response — Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer.

Viral Warfare: Unleashing Engineered Oncolytic Viruses to Outsmart Cancer’s Defenses — Frontiers in Immunology.

Resistance Signatures to Oncolytic Vesiculoviruses in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma — Molecular Therapy: Oncology.

Repurposing Live Attenuated Trivalent MMR Vaccine as Cost-Effective Cancer Immunotherapy — Frontiers in Oncology.

Anti-oxidant Activity of Methanolic Extract of Aquatic Flowering Plant Nymphaea capensis Leaf — Research Square (Preprint).

Anti-oxidant Effect of Flemingia stricta Roxb. Leaves Methanolic Extract — European Journal of Biological Research.

About

Dr. Khandoker Usran Ferdous is a pharmacy educator and cancer researcher dedicated to advancing both student learning and pharmaceutical/biomedical science. He is committed to delivering engaging, evidence-based instruction and conducts research to improve student learning outcomes and educational effectiveness. His biomedical research focuses on cancer immunotherapy, oncolytic virotherapy, and tumor microenvironment modulation, with an emphasis on developing novel therapeutic strategies for treatment-resistant cancers. He is passionate about translating both educational innovations and scientific discoveries into meaningful impact while helping students growing professionally.