Anand K. Ganesan

Picture of Anand K. Ganesan
Professor, Dermatology
School of Medicine
Professor, Biological Chemistry
Professor , Surgery
School of Medicine
Vice Chair for Research, Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine
Co-Director, BIDD Program, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine
Associate Dean for Physician-Scientist Development, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine
M.D., Medical College of Wisconsin, 2001
PhD, Medical College of Wisconsin, 1999, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
Phone: (949) 824-2926
Email: aganesan@hs.uci.edu
University of California, Irvine
202 SPRAGUE HALL
Mail Code: 2400
Irvine, CA 92697
Research Interests
melanogenesis, melanoma, vitiligo
Appointments
Core Co-Director, Imaging Core, UCI Skin

Co-Director, Molecular Diagnostics and Therapeutics Program, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center

Advisor, Medical Scientist Training Program

Vice Chair for Research, Department of Dermatology

Standing Member, AMS Study Section, CSR

Equity Advisor, UCI School of Medicine
Research Abstract
Dr Ganesan’s research work focuses: 1) understanding how melanocytes respond to environmental cues (UV irradiation, inflammation) in order to maintain normal homeostasis; and 2) determining how this homeostasis is disrupted in disease (melanoma, vitiligo). His research utilizes a combination of advanced functional genomic technology (si/shRNA, CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Engineering, bulk and single cell RNA sequencing, DNA sequencing), cell biology methods, and rational drug design strategies to develop novel diagnostics and treatments for disease. Most work in his lab employs a combination of human derived cell lines/ strains, transgenic mouse models, and human tissues.
Awards and Honors
2023 Research Achievement Award in Vitiligo and Pigment Cell Disorders
2013 Research Associates Dean's Junior Physician Scientist Award
2011 American Cancer Society Research Scholar
2010 Dermatology Teaching Award
2009-PRES Best Doctors of America
2008 IID Travel Fellowship
2007 ESDR/SID Collegiality Award
2004-2006 Physician Scientist Training Program Fellow, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas TX
2001 Armand J. Quick Award for Excellence in Biochemistry
1994 Honors Graduate, University of California, Berkeley
Publications
1. Wang X, Ramos R, Phan AQ, Yamaga K, Flesher JL, Jiang S, Oh JW, Jin S, Jahid S, Kuan CH, Nguyen TK, Liang HY, Shettigar NU, Hou R, Tran KH, Nguyen A, Vu KN, Phung JL, Ingal JP, Levitt KM, Cao X, Liu Y, Deng Z, Taguchi N, Scarfone VM, Wang G, Paolilli KN, Wang X, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Davis RT, Greenberg EN, Ruiz-Vega R, Vasudeva P, Murad R, Widyastuti LHP, Lee HL, McElwee KJ, Gadeau AP, Lawson DA, Andersen B, Mortazavi A, Yu Z, Nie Q, Kunisada T, Karin M, Tuckermann J, Esko JD, Ganesan AK, Li J, Plikus MV. Signaling by senescent melanocytes hyperactivates hair growth. Nature. 2023 Jun;618(7966):808-817.
2. U J, Jian H, Wei C, Shiu J, Ganesan A, Zhao W, Hedde PN. A Low-Cost Modular Imaging System for Rapid, Multiplexed Immunofluorescence Detection in Clinical Tissues. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Apr 10;24(8):7008.
3. Brindani N, Vuong LM, Acquistapace IM, La Serra MA, Oretga JA, Veronesi M, Bertozzi SM, Summa M, Girotto S, Bertorelli R, Armirotti A, Ganesan AK, De Vivo M. Design, Synthesis, In Vitro and In Vivo Characterization of CDC42 GTPase Interaction Inhibitors for the Treatment of Cancer. J Med Chem. 2023 Apr 27;66(8):5981-6001.
4. Ezzedine K, Peeva E, Yamaguchi Y, Cox LA, Banerjee A, Han G, Hamzavi I, Ganesan AK, Picardo M, Thaci D, Harris JE, Bae JM, Tsukamoto K, Sinclair R, Pandya AG, Sloan A, Yu D, Gandhi K, Vincent MS, King B. Efficacy and safety of oral ritlecitinib for the treatment of active nonsegmental vitiligo: A randomized phase 2b clinical trial. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2023 Feb;88(2):395-403.
5. Rosmarin D, Passeron T, Pandya AG, Grimes P, Harris JE, Desai SR, Lebwohl M, Ruer-Mulard M, Seneschal J, Wolkerstorfer A, Kornacki D, Sun K, Butler K, Ezzedine K; TRuE-V Study Group. Two Phase 3, Randomized, Controlled Trials of Ruxolitinib Cream for Vitiligo. N Engl J Med. 2022 Oct 20;387(16):1445-1455.
6. Ganesan AK, Taylor TH, Kraus CN. Association of Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus with Endometrial and Ovarian Cancer. JAAD Int. 2022 Jul 22;9:26-27.
7. Shiu J, Zhang L, Lentsch G, Flesher JL, Polleys C, Jo SJ, Mizzoni C, Mobasher P, Kwan J, Ruis-Diaz F, Tromberg BJ, Georgakoudi I, Nie Q, Balu M, Ganesan AK. Multimodal Analysis of Vitiligo Skin Identifies Tissue Characteristics of Stable Disease. JCI Insight. 2022 Jul 8;7(13):e154585.
8. La Serra MA, Vidossich P, Acquistapace I, Ganesan AK, De Vivo M. Alchemical Free Energy Calculations to Investigate Protein-Protein Interactions: the Case of the CDC42/PAK1 Complex. J Chem Inf Model. 2022 Jun 27;62(12):3023-3033.
9. Jahid S, Ortega JA, Vuong LM, Acquistapace IM, Hachey SJ, Flesher JL, La Serra MA, Brindani N, La Sala G, Manigrosso J, Arencibia JM, Bertozzi SM, Summa M, Bertorelli R, Amirotti A, Jin R, Liu Z, Chen CF, Edwards R, Hughes CCW, De Vivo M, Ganesan AK. Structure-based Design of CDC42 Effector Interaction Inhibitors for the Treatment of Cancer. Cell Reports. 2022 Apr 5;39(1):110641.
10. Vu T, Vallmitjana A, Gu J, La K, Xu Q, Flores J, Zimak J, Shiu J, Hosohama L, Wu J, Douglas C, Waterman ML, Ganesan A, Hedde PN, Gratton E, Zhao W. Spatial transcriptomics using combinatorial fluorescence spectral and lifetime encoding, imaging, and analysis. Nat Commun. 2022 Jan 10;13(1):169.
11. Mobasher P, Shiu J, Lentsch G, Ganesan AK. Comparing the Efficacy of 2 Different Harvesting Techniques for Melanocyte Keratinocyte Transplantation in Vitiligo. Dermatologic Surgery. 2021 May 1;47(5):732-733.
12. Fast A, Lai A, Durkin AF, Lentsch G, Harris RM, Zachary CB, Ganesan AK, Balu M. Fast, large area multiphoton exoscope (FLAME) for macroscopic imaging with microscopic resolution of human skin. Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 22;10(1):18093. Doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-75172-9.
13. Habowski , Flesher JL, Bates JM, Tsai CF, Martin K, Zhao R, Ganesan AK, Edwards RA, Shi T, Wiley HS, Shi Y, Hertel KJ, Waterman ML. Transcriptomic and proteomic signatures of stemness and differentiation in the colon crypt. Commun Biol. 2020 Aug 19;3(1):453. Doi: 10.1038/s42003-020-01181-z.
14. Ruiz-Vega R, Chen CF, Razzak E, Vasudeva P, Kraseiva TB, Shiu J, Caldwell MG, Yan H, Lowengrub J, Ganesan AK, Lander AD. Dynamics of Nevus Development implicate cell cooperation in the growth arrest of melanocytic nevi. Elife. 2020 Oct 13;9:e61026.
15. Lentsch G, Valdebran M, Sakrite I, Smith J, Linden KG, Konig K, Barr RJ, Harris RM, Tromberg BJ, Ganesan AK, Zachary CB, Kelly KM, Balu M. Non-invasive optical biopsy by multiphoton microscopy identifies the live morphology of common melanocytic nevi. Pigment Cell Melanoma Research. 2020 Jun 2.
16. Hoang T, Ganesan AK, Hiyama D, Dayyani F. Gene mutations distinguishing gastric from colorectal and esophageal adenocarcinoma. J Gastrointest Oncol. 2020 Feb;11(1):45-54.
17. Flesher JL, Paterson-Coleman EK, Vasudeva P, Ruiz-Vega R, Marshall M, Pearlman E, MacGregor GR, Neumann J, Ganesan AK. Delineating the role of MITF isoforms in pigmentation and tissue homeostasis. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2020 Mar;33(2):279-292.
18. Mobasher P, Guerra R, Jiaying Li S, Frangos J, Ganesan AK, Huang V. Open Label Pilot Study of 2% Tofacitinib for the Treatment of Refractory Vitiligo. Br J Dermatol. 2019 Oct 12.
19. Wang C, Kraus CN, Patel KG, Ganesan AK, Grando SA. Real-wrold experience of dupilumab treatment for atopic dermatitis in adults: a retrospective analysis of patients’ records. Int J Dermatol. 2019 Jul 8.
20. Lentsch G, Balu M, Williams J, Lee S, Harris Rm, Konig K, Ganesan A, Tromberg BJ, Nair N, Santhanam U, Misra M. In vivo multiphoton microscopy of melasma. Pigment Cell Melanoma Red. 2019 May;32(3):403-411.
21. Liggins MC, Flesher JL, Jahid S, Vasuveda P, Eby V, Takasuga S, Sasaki J, Sasaki T, Boissy RE, Ganesan AK. PIKfyve Regulates Melanosome Biogenesis. PLoS Genetics. 2018 Mar 27;14(3):e100729.
22. Thomas LW, Elsensohn A, Bergheim T, Shiu J, Ganesan A. Intramuscular Steroids in the Treatment of Dermatologic Disease: A Systematic Review. 2018 Mar 1;17(3):323-329.
23. Lai M, Realini N, LaFerla M, Passalacqua I, Matteoli G, Ganesan A, Pistello M, Mazanti CM, Piomell D. Complete Acid Ceramidase ablation prevents cancer initiating cell formation in melanoma cells. Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 7;7(1):7411.
24. Ruiz-Vega R, Jahid S, Harris M, Marzese DM, Espitia F, Vasudeva P, Chen CF, de Feraudy S, Wu J, Gillen DL, Krasieva TB, Tromberg BJ, Pavan WJ, Hoon DS, Ganesan AK. The RHoJ BAD Signaling Network: An Achilles Heel for BRAF Mutant Melanoma. PLoS Genetics. 2017 Jul 28;13(7):e1006913.
25. Ortega JA, Arencibia JM, La Sala G, Brogogno M, Bauer I, Bono L, Braccia C, Amirotti A, Girotto S, Ganesan A, De Vivo M. Pharmacophore Identification and Scaffold Exploration to Discover Novel, Potent, and Chemically Stable Inhibitors of Acid Ceramidase in Melanoma Cells. J Med Chem 2017. 2017 Jul 13;60(13):5800-5815.
26. Chen CF, Ruiz-Vega R, Vasudeva P, Espitia F, Kraseiva TB, de Feraudy S, Tromberg BJ, Huang S, Garner CP, Wu J, Hoon DS, Ganesan AK. ATR Mutations Promote the Growth of Melanoma Tumors by Modulating the Immune Microenvironment. Cell Rep. 2017 Mar 7;18(10):2331-2342.
27. Hopkin AS, Paterson EK, Ruiz R, Ganesan KA. Pigment Production Analysis in Human Melanoma Cells. Methods Mol Biol. 2016 May 25.
28. Realini N, Palese F, Pizzrani D, Pontis S, Basit A, Bach S, Ganesan A, Piomelli D. Acid Ceramidase in Melanoma: Expression, Localization, and effects of Pharmacologic Inhibition. J Biol Chem. 2016 Jan 29;291(5):2422-34.
29. Paterson EK, Fielder TJ, MacGregor GR, Ito S, Wakamatsu K, Gillen DJ, Evy V, Boissy RE, Ganesan AK. Tyrosinase Depletion Prevents the Maturation of Melanosomes in the Mouse Hair Follicle. PLoS One. 2015 Nov 30;10(11):e0143702.
30. Saedi N, Ganesan AK. Treating hyperpigmentation in darker-skinned patients. J Drugs Dermatol. 2013 May;12(5):563-7.
31. Paterson E, Ho H, Kapadia R, Ganesan AK. 9-cis Retinoic Acid is the ALDH1A1 Product that Stimulates Melanogenesis. Exp Dermatol. 2013 Mar;22(3):202-209.
32. Ho H, Hopkin AS, Kapadia R, Vasuveda P, Schilling J, Ganesan AK. RHoJ Modulates Melanoma Invasion by Altering Actin Cytoskeletal Dynamics. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2013 Mar;26(2):218-25.
33. Ho H, Aruri J, Kapadia R, Mehr H, White MA, Ganesan AK. RHoJ and Pak Kinases Regulate Melanoma Chemoresistance by Suppressing Pathways that Sense DNA Damage. Cancer Research. 2012 Nov 1;72(21):5516-28.
34. Ghasri P, Gattu S, Saedi N, Ganesan A. Chemical leukoderma following application of transdermal methylphenidate patch. JAAD. 2011. In press.
35. Ho H, Ganesan AK. The Pleiotropic Roles of Autophagy Regulators in Melanogenesis. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2011 Aug;24(4):595-604.
36. Ho H, Kapadia R, Al-Tahan S, Ahmad S, Ganesan AK. WIPI1 coordinates melanogenic gene transcription and melanosome formation via TORC1 inhibition. J Biol Chem. 2011 Apr 8;286(14):12509-23.
37. Ho H, Milenkovic T, Memisevic V, Aruri J, Przulj N, Ganesan AK. Protein Interaction Network Topology Uncovers Melanogenesis Regulatory Network Components Within Functional Genomics Datasets. BMC Syst Biol. 2010 Jun 15;4(1):84.
38. Milenkovic T, Memisevic V, Ganesan AK, Przulj N. Systems-level Cancer Gene Identification from Protein Interaction Network Topology Applied to Melanogenesis-related Functional Genomics Data. J R Soc Interface. 2010 Mar 6;7(44):423-37.
39. Ganesan AK, Ho H, Bodemann B, Petersen S, Aruri J, Koshy S, Richardson Z, Le LQ, Kraseiva T, Roth MG, Farmer P, White MA. Genome-Wide siRNA-Based Functional Genomics of Pigmentation Identifies Novel Genes and Pathways That Impact Melanogenesis in Human Cells. PLoS Genet. 2008 Dec;4(12):e1000298.
40. Ganesan AK, Kho Y, Kim SC, Chen Y, Zhao Y, White MA. Broad spectrum identification of SUMO substrates in melanoma cells. Proteomics. 2007 Jul;7(13):2216-21.
41. Ganesan AK, Vincent TS, Olson JC, Barbieri JT. Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S disrupts Ras-mediated signal transduction by inhibiting guanine nucleotide exchange factor-catalyzed nucleotide exchange. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 1999 Jul 30;274(31):21823-9.
42. Ganesan AK, Mende-Muelle L, Selzer J, Barbieri JT. Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S, a double ADP-ribosyltransferase, resembles vertebrate mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 1999 Apr;274(14):9503-9.
43. Ganesan AK, Frank DW, Misra RP, Schmidt G, Barbieri JT. Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S ADP-ribosylates Ras at multiple sites. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 1998 Mar 27;273(13):7332-7.
44. Hall JA, Ganesan AK, Chen J, Nikaido H. Two modes of ligand binding in maltose-binding protein of Escherichia coli. Functional significance in active transport. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 1997 Jul 11;272(28):17615-22.
Grants
NCI | 12/04/2019-11/30/2024 Title: R01CA244571 Identifying Therapeutic Targets for Stage III Melanoma | Role: Principal Investigator | This grant seeks to develop new methods to treat melanoma tumors before they have has a chance to metastasize to distant organs.
NIBIB | 07/01/2018-06/30/2028 | Title: 2R01EB0267-05 Development of a fast scanning, extended field of view, multiphoton microscopic for clinical skin imaging | Role: MPI | The major goal of this project is to develop a new MPM technology to visualize immune cell dynamics in the human epidermis.
NIAMS | 02/22/2023-02/21/2025 | Title: 1R21AR082648-01 In vivo label free optical imaging of immune cells in human skin | Role: MPI | The major goal of this project if to develop a non-invasive imaging approach to visualize wound healing in human skin.
NIAMS | 05/01/2022-04/30/2024 | Title: 1T32AR080622-01 Interdisciplinary Training Program in Skin Biology | Role: MPI | The major goal of this training program is to train physician-scientists and scientists in skin biology research.
NCI | 04/01/2018-03/31/2024 | Title: U54CA217378-01 Complexity, Cooperativity, and Community in Cancer | Role: Co-Leader, Project 2 | The major goal of this project is to understand the premalignancy risk of melanocytic nevi and how they transform into melanoma.
NIAMS | 01/18/2019-02/29/2024 | Title: P30AR075047 Skin Biology Resource-Based Center at UCI | Role: Co-Director, Imaging Core | This grant supports my work as co-director of the imaging core of the P30 skin disease resource center.
NCI | 09/11/1997-01/31/2027 | Title: 5P30CA062203-25 Biotechnology, Imaging, and Drug Development Program | Role: Program Leader | I serve as a program leader of the Biotechnology, Imaging, and Drug Development Program in the UCI Cancer Center.
NIAMS | 09/24/2019-03/31/2021 | Title: 1R56AR074641 Uncovering the Origin and Growth Regulation of Melanocytic Nevi | Role: Principal Investigator | This grant seeks to understand what cells initiate nevi and what controls their growth. This grant is on a one year no cost extension.
NIAMS | 05/15/2018-07/31/2021 | Title: R21AR073408 Identifying the Molecular Characteristics of Migrating Melanocytes in Vitiligo Skin | Role: PI | The major goal of this project is to define imaging and molecular biomarkers capable of identifying the melanocytes that migrate during pigmentation of vitiligo skin. This grant is on a one year no cost extension.
UCI-ACC | 06/01/2018-5/30/2019 | Title: RhoJ Inhibitors - A Novel Treatment for Early Stage Melanoma | Role: PI | The major goal of this project is to complete critical in vivo studies to establish he feasibility of using recently identified RhoJ Inhibitors to treat melanoma and other cancers.
NIAMS | 03/01/2013-02/28/2019 | Title: 1R01AR063116 Phosphoinositide Signaling Regulates Melanogenesis | Role: PI | The major goal of this project is to determine how phosphoinositides regulate melanogenesis.
NCI | 07/01/2013-06/30/2018 | Title: 1RO1CA151513-01A1 PAK Kinases Regulate Melanoma Chemoresistance and Metastasis. Phosphoinositide Signaling Regulates Melanogenesis | Role: PI | The major goal of this project is to determine how PAK kinases regulate the DNA damage response and determine whether PAK inhibitor therapies could be useful in the treatment of malignant melanoma.
American Cancer Society | 07/01/2011-06/30/2015 | Title: RSG-11-128-01-CSM RhoJ - A Novel Regulator of Melanoma Invasion and Chemoresistance | Role: PI | The major goal of this project is to determine the mechanism by which RhoJ regulates melanoma chemoresistance.
UCOP | 08/01/2013-07/30/2014 | Title: UC Proof of Concept Award: ALDH Inhibitors as Novel Depigmenting Agents | Role: PI | The major goal of this project is to determine whether ALDH inhibitors are novel depigmenting agents.
NIAMS | 04/01/2009-03/31/2012 | Title: R03AR057150-01 Dissecting the Impact of Autophagy Regulators on Melanogenesis in Normal Human Cells | Role: PI | The major goal of this project is to determine the impact of regulators of autophagy on melanogenesis in normal melanocytes.
Dermatology Foundation | 06/01/2009-05/31/2010 | Title: Dissecting the Impact of Autophagy Regulators on Melanogenesis in Normal Human Cells | Role: PI | The major goal of this project is to determine the impact of regulators of autophagy on melanogenesis in normal melanocytes.
NIAMS | 12/01/2008-11/31/2013 | Title: 1K08ARO56001-01A1 Aldehyde Dehydrogenase: A Novel Regulator of Melanin Biogenesis | Role: PI | The major goal of this project is to determine the mechanism whereby aldehyde dehydrogenase regulates melanogenesis.
American Cancer Society | 04/01/2007-03/31/2008 | Title: Genome wide siRNA Screening Reveals the Interdependence of Apoptotic and Senescence Pathways in Melanoma Chemoresistance | Role: PI | The major goal of this project was to define novel regulators of melanoma senescence and chemoresistance identified in RNAi screens.
UC Cancer Research Coordinating Committee | 07/01/2007-06/30/2008 | Title: Thyroid Releasing Hormone Receptor: A Novel Target for Melanoma Chemotherapy | Role: PI | The major goal of this project was to characterize the impact of thyroid releasing hormone receptor type B on melanoma chemoresistance.
Outrun the Sun, Inc. | 07/01/2007-06/30/2008 | Title: Thyroid Releasing Hormone Receptor: A Novel Target for Melanoma Chemotherapy | Role: PI | The major goal of this project was to characterize the impact of thyroid releasing hormone receptor type B on melanoma chemoresistance.
Professional Societies
2015-PRES | Global Vitiligo Foundation
2012-2014 | American Association for Cancer Research
2011-PRES | Pan American Society for Pigment Cell Research
2002-PRES | Society for Investigative Dermatology
2002-2015 | American Academy of Dermatology
Graduate Programs
Cellular and Molecular Biosciences
Mathematical and Computational Biology
Research Centers
Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
Cancer Research Institute
Center for Cancer Systems Biology
UCI Skin
Institute for Immunology
Stem Cell Research Center
Beckman Laser Institute
Last updated
07/19/2023