Professor
Cell and Molecular Pharmacology
Medical University of South Carolina

Anand Mehta, D.Phil. is the SmartState Endowed Chair in Proteomic Biomarkers, Professor in the Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Senior Associate Dean for Research in the College of Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Dr. Mehta received his graduate degree in Biochemistry from the University of Oxford under the supervision of Professor Raymond Dwek and Noble Laureate Baruch Blumberg. While a student, and as an Assistant Professor at Thomas Jefferson University, Drexel University and the Pennsylvania Biotechnology center, Dr. Mehta examined the methods by which viruses escape from cells and developed methods to inhibit them. Several compound that Dr. Mehta developed are currently under development as inhibitors of H1N1 Influenza, Ebola, Marburg, SARS-CoV2 and Dengue virus by Emergent BioSolutions.

Dr. Mehta’s laboratory is now focused on understanding and developing diagnostic methods and treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a primary cancer of the liver that kills close to 1 million people every year. Additionally, his laboratory is examining the factors that lead to the development and progression of liver cancer, specifically in those with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).

Dr. Mehta’s laboratory helped develop the method of “glycoproteomics” and used this method for the discovery of biomarkers of virally associated liver cancer. Importantly, many of the biomarkers are already being used internationally for the detection of HCC, while others are being used in the USA to detect end stage liver disease in those with MASLD.

Recently, in collaboration with the Angel and Drake laboratories, he helped develop methods for spatial glycan imaging and this method is now widely used worldwide. Recently his group developed methods for the simultaneous multi-omic analysis from antibody captured glycoproteins and cells using imaging mass spectrometry.

Dr. Mehta has six issued patents in the USA and many of these are also issued in other countries as well. Dr. Mehta has founded and spun out four companies and is currently part of three spin out companies. In recognition of his translational work, in 2023, he was elected as a Fellow of the National Academy of inventors.

Dr. Mehta’s laboratory remains on the forefront in the development of tools for the analysis of complex carbohydrates and the discovery and validation of biomarkers of cancer.