Ramila Joshi (Assoc)

Ramila Joshi, Ph.D. is a member of the Cell Systems Science group led by Dr. John T. Elliott. Ramila received her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from The University of Akron. Her dissertation was focused on micro-engineering the stem cells niche to regulate their neural differentiation. Using an innovative cell microprinting technology to robotically generate defined stem cell niches with controlled colony sizes and interspacing on a layer of supporting stromal cells, her research showed that spatial organization of stem cells plays a key role in the differentiation process.

At NIST, Ramila is a guest researcher through Research Foundation SUNY/NIST PREP (Professional Research Experience Program). She and Dr. Elliott have designed a unique flexible, end-to-end automation system named P-CAMP (Prototype- Cell Assay Measurement Platform), for the development of robust biological assays. She uses P-CAMP to conduct full factorial experimental designs and vary the parameters of biological assays with ensured measurement confidence to evaluate and validate widely used assays such as cell viability assays, SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays, and off-target nomination assays for gene editors.

Research interests

• Automation of biological assays
• Measurement assurance in multistep assays
• Modular lab automation
• Sources of variability in assays
• Multifactorial data analysis
• 3D cell culture and Stem cells technologies

Past Publications

Google Scholar Profile

1. R. Joshi, B. Fuller, H. Tavana, “Stem Cell Colony Interspacing Effect on Differentiation to Neural Cells” J. Tissue Eng. Regen. Med. 12 (2018) 2041-2054.
2. R. Joshi, B. Fuller, J. Li, H. Tavana, “Statistical identification of differentially expressed genes that regulate colony size-dependent neural differentiation of stem cells” Mol. Omics. 14 (2018) 109-120. 
3. R. Joshi, P.S. Thakuri, J.B. Buchanan, J. Li, H. Tavana, “Microprinted embryonic stem cell niches reveal compounding effect of colony size on stromal cells-mediated neural differentiation” Adv. Healthcare Mater. 7 (2018) 1700832.
4. R. Joshi, J.B. Buchanan, H. Tavana, “Self-regulatory soluble factors of embryonic stem cells in co-culture with stromal cells enhance neural differentiation” Integr. Biol. 9 (2017) 418-426. (Cover art)
5. R. Joshi, J. Buchanan, S. Paruchuri, N. Morris, H. Tavana “Molecular analysis of stromal cells-induced neural differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells” PLoS One 11 (2016) e0166316.
6. R. Joshi, J. Buchanan, H. Tavana, “Colony size effect on neural differentiation of embryonic stem cells microprinted on stromal cells” Conf. Proc. IEEE Eng. Med. Biol. Soc. (2016) 4173-4176.
7. R. Joshi, H. Tavana, “Microengineered embryonic stem cells niche to induce neural differentiation” Conf. Proc. IEEE Eng. Med. Biol. Soc. (2015) 3557-3560.
8. E. Atefi, R. Joshi, H. Tavana, “Effect of molecular weight of phase polymers on partition of cells in aqueous two-phase systems” MRS Adv. 2 (2017) 2415-2426.
9. S.L. Ham, R. Joshi, G.D. Luker, H. Tavana, “Engineered breast cancer cell spheroids display biologic properties of solid tumors” Adv. Healthcare Mater. 5 (2016) 2788-2798.
10. S.L. Ham, R. Joshi, P.S. Thakuri, H. Tavana, “Liquid-based three-dimensional tumor models in cancer research and drug discovery” Exp. Biol. Med. 241 (2016) 939-954.
11. E. Atefi, R. Joshi, J.A. Mann Jr., H. Tavana, “Interfacial tension effect on cell partition in aqueous two-phase systems” ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 7 (2015) 21305-21314.
12. P.S. Thakuri, R. Joshi, S. Basnet, S. Pandey, S.D. Taujale, N. Mishra, “Antimicrobial photodynamic killing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in-vitro” Nepal Med. Coll. J. 13: 4 (2011) 281-284.
13. P.S. Thakuri, M. Gupta, R. Joshi, S. Singh, H. Tavana, “Synergistic Inhibition of Kinase Pathways Overcomes Resistance of Colorectal Cancer Spheroids to Cyclic Targeted Therapies” ACS Pharmacol. Transl. Sci. 2 (2019) 275-284.
14. P.S. Thakuri, M. Gupta, S. Singh, R. Joshi, E. Glasgow, A. Lekan, S. Agarwal, G.D. Luker, H. Tavana, “Phytochemicals inhibit migration of triple negative breast cancer cells by targeting kinase signaling” BMC Cancer 20:4 (2020) 1-14.