Biography

Dr. Athar has a broad background in skin biochemistry, signal transduction, and carcinogenesis. As a visiting research scientist at the Case Western Reserve University, he conducted experiments to show the involvement of oxygen free radicals in the pathogenesis of porphyrin photosensitivity and chemical- and UVB-induced murine skin carcinogenesis and inflammatory responses. Thereafter, his laboratory was involved in developing protocols for preventing environmental carcinogen-induced cancers in various murine models employing a number of synthetic and natural chemopreventive agents including NSAIDs. As a Senior Research Scientist in the Department of Dermatology at Columbia University, New York (as PI or co-PI on several university- and NIH-funded grants), he and his team used various genetic and pharmacological approaches for the chemoprevention of basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. They showed that the growth of both BCCs and SCCs can be reduced by tazarotene but more effectively by bexarotene. While at UAB, he has been involved in evaluating pharmacological agents that interfere with the hedgehog biochemical pathway. While much of this has relevance for prevention and treatment of basal cell carcinoma, it also contributes in a major way to embryonic development of skin. He has also established a new line of investigation examining signal transduction pathways involved in bister formation employing lewisite as a vesicant. Dr. Athar has a demonstrated record of successful and productive research projects in an area of high relevance for acute cutaneous injury and NMSCs.

Education & Training

Graduate School
M.Sc., Inorganic Chemistry, Lucknow University, Lucknow, India, 1977
M. Phil., Coordination Chemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India, 1978
Ph.D., Coordination Chemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India, 1980

Contact Information

Barry Bailey
Administrative Associate
Phone: (205) 934-5188
Email: babailey@uabmc.edu