Dhavamani Sugasini

Lipidomics and lipid biochemistry scientist with extensive experience in LC-MS/MS, lipid metabolism, omega-3 fatty acids, phospholipids, lysophospholipids, translational research, and industry–academic collaborations.

Currently Research Assistant

Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine with a strong record of translating complex lipid science into research programs, collaborative partnerships, intellectual property, and commercially relevant applications. Experienced in developing industry-sponsored research programs, identifying customer and partner needs, preparing technical proposals and budgets, presenting scientific solutions to multidisciplinary stakeholders, and building relationships with academic and commercial organizations. Approximately 30 peer-reviewed publications, 1,300+ citations, h-index ~21, and inventor on a U.S. patent covering an LPC-DHA/LPC-EPA-enriched krill oil composition.

Combines deep technical expertise in lipidomics with strong scientific communication, relationship management, proposal development, and commercialization experience relevant to technical business development and lipidomics services.

Research Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism - University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine - Chicago, IL

• Lead research programs focused on lipidomics, omega-3 fatty acid metabolism, lysophospholipid biology, and targeted lipid delivery in neurological, metabolic, and retinal disease models.
• Develop and apply analytical strategies using LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, UPLC, HPLC, and related lipid analytical technologies for quantitative characterization of fatty acids and complex lipid species.
• Translate scientific discoveries into potential commercial and therapeutic applications involving novel lipid-based nutritional and biomedical technologies.
• Establish and manage collaborations with academic investigators, biotechnology organizations, nutritional ingredient companies, and industry partners.
• Engage industry collaborators to understand scientific and product-development objectives and translate those requirements into executable research programs.
• Prepare technical proposals, study designs, project scopes, timelines, budgets, milestones, and scientific reports for sponsored research collaborations.
• Present complex lipidomics and lipid-metabolism concepts to scientific and non-scientific stakeholders in clear, application-oriented language.
• Provide scientific guidance regarding omega-3 ingredients, lipid carriers, bioavailability, tissue distribution, and brain delivery.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary research activities involving analytical chemistry, lipid biochemistry, molecular biology, animal studies, and translational endpoints.
• Mentor students and research personnel and provide technical leadership in experimental design, lipid analysis, data interpretation, and scientific communication.
• Contribute to manuscripts, grant applications, intellectual property, conference presentations, and collaborative research programs.

Research Faculty / Postdoctoral Research Experience - University of Illinois Chicago - Chicago, IL

• Conducted mechanistic and translational studies investigating lipid metabolism and omega-3 fatty acid delivery.
• Developed expertise in phospholipids, lysophospholipids, triglycerides, DHA, EPA, lipid transport, and tissue-specific lipid metabolism.
• Demonstrated that lysophosphatidylcholine-based DHA delivery can substantially enhance brain DHA incorporation compared with conventional lipid carriers.
• Supported development of novel lipid formulations with potential applications in nutrition, neurological health, and therapeutic development.
• Designed experiments, analyzed complex lipid datasets, interpreted findings, and communicated results through publications and presentations.
• Collaborated across disciplines including lipid chemistry, neuroscience, nutrition, endocrinology, ophthalmology, and metabolic disease research.

Ph.D. - Biochemistry, Specialization: Lipid Biochemistry & Nutrition - Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India

M.Sc. - Food Science & Nutrition - Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India

B.Sc. - Food Science & Nutrition - Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India