Manbir Sandhu completed his Bachelor Degree at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). While at UCSD, Manbir worked in the laboratory of Dr. Maike Sander, studying pancreas organogenesis in embryonic mice. During his time in the lab, Manbir helped develop assays for pancreas explant ex-vivo culture to monitor cell-fate progression of early pancreas ductal progenitors into ductal, exocrine, and endocrine cells.
After completing the BS Degree, Manbir worked as a research associate in the laboratory of Dr. Mark Moasser at the University of California, San Francisco. Under Dr. Moasser’s supervision, Manbir studied the activation kinase signaling cascades in HER2 amplified breast cancers. The study also focused on novel mechanisms to prevent autologous signaling of HER2 amplified cells by targeting the obligate signaling partner HER3.
Manbir obtained his PhD at the Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope in Duarte, California. Here, Manbir trained under the supervision of Dr. Nagarajan Vaidehi to study the dynamics of GPCR signaling. Specifically, Manbir focused on the structural mechanisms by which GPCRs recognize and couple to different G proteins.
He extended his research into GPCR signaling networks through a postdoctoral study in the laboratory of Dr. M. Madan Babu. Working with Dr. Babu, Manbir is using network analysis tools to explore how the multiple components of GPCR signaling pathways are regulated in adipose tissues. The goals of this work was to identify targets within the GPCR signaling network that are responsible for pathologies associated with obesity, and to develop novel therapeutic strategies around these genes.
Manbir took up a position with DNAnexus