The Gullapalli lab is focused on understanding the role of environmental pollutants as a driver of human hepatobiliary diseases. We study environmental pollutants such as heavy metals (e.g., cadmium), chemicals (e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and nano-/microplastic (NMPs) exposures on human hepatic liver function with a focus on understanding metabolic (dysfunction) associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). We are also interested in the modulation of drug induced liver injuries in toxicant exposed livers.
Key research questions of interest in the Gullapalli lab:
i. How do environmental pollutants (e.g., cadmium, nano-/microplastics and PAHs) affect insulin signaling activity and metabolic function in the human liver?
ii. Drug induced liver injury (DILI) susceptibility changes in toxicant exposed livers.
iii. Do type II diabetics have increased susceptibility to environmental pollutants compared to non-diabetics?
Ongoing Projects:
a. Chronic, Low-Dose Exposures of Cadmium (CLEC) in Metabolic (Dysfunction) Associated Fatty Liver Disease: We have developed novel invitro models which recapitulate the effects of sustained exposures of cadmium under normoglycemic and hyperglycemic conditions. We use CLEC models to understand the insulin-PIK3CA-Akt signaling axis dysfunction with a focus on long-term reactive oxygen species (ROS) imbalances and oxidative stress dysfunction in liver cells.
Experimental techniques – qPCR, high throughput imaging platforms, Western blots, fluorescence microscopy, NGS, metabolomics.
Fig 1. CLEC exposure model developed in the Gullapalli lab (PMID: 39191366)
b. Effects of chronic heavy metal exposures on hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction: The liver is a major organ involved in a wide range of physiological functions. Mitochondria are the key organelles involved in normal liver function. An ongoing project in the lab measures the effects of sustained environmental pollutants (cadmium and plastics) on hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction. We also study the effects of pollutants on glucose and fatty acid metabolism regulated primarily at the mitochondrial level.
Experimental techniques – Fluorescence microscopy, Agilent SeaHorse platform, mitochondrial physiology and imaging, molecular biology, metabolomics.
Fig 2. Cd induced ROS species generation protocol (PMID: 38314817)
c. Nano- and Microplastic accumulation and dysfunction in the liver: In collaboration with the Campen lab, we are studying the effects of accumulation of nano- and microplastic pollutants in the liver. We study the accumulative patterns of plastic pollutants in decedent tissues of individuals living in the state of New Mexico. We are also developing novel, cutting-edge optical techniques such as polarization wave microscopy (PWM) and multi-spectral fluorescence to detect plastics in tissues. Future work will focus on understanding mechanisms of plastic pollution induced fatty liver signaling dysfunction in animal and invitro models. We are also interested in understanding changes in the physical and surface chemistry of environmental plastic pollution.
Experimental techniques – Molecular biology, FTIR and Raman, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, fluorescence lifetime, surface chemistry, polarization wave imaging, metabolomics.
Fig 3. Polarization Wave Imaging of putative nano- and microplastics in human liver(PMID: 39901044)
Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, UNM
Associate Professor, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, UNM
Education:
Email – rgullapalli@salud.unm.edu
LinkedIn – Rama Gullapalli
Curriculum Vitae - Rama Gullapalli’s CV
Joseph Stenberg, DO
Pathology Resident Physician, Department of Pathology, UNM
Education:
Email – JStenberg@salud.unm.edu
LinkedIn – Joseph Stenberg
Mariam Posso, MD
Pathology Resident Physician, Department of Pathology, UNM
Education:
1. MD Universidad de Santander Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Bucaramanga, Colombia
Email – MPossoPaz@salud.unm.edu
LinkedIn – Mariam Posso
Federico Di Staso, MD, PhD
Pathology Resident Physician, Department of Pathology, UNM
Education:
Email – FDiStaso@salud.unm.edu
LinkedIn - Federico DiStaso TBD
Theodore Muka, MD
Pathology Resident Physician, Department of Pathology, UNM
Education:
Email – TMuka@salud.unm.edu
LinkedIn – Theo Muka TBD
Ashwin Chinala
Undergraduate student researcher, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, UNM
Education:
Email – achinala@salud.unm.edu
LinkedIn - Ashwin Chinala
Gullapalli Lab Collaborators
2026
- Dr. Rahul Kumar, the first PhD student from the Gullapalli lab, now moves on to a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan in the lab of Dr. Elizabeth Speliotis. Congratulations and all the best, Rahul! I am sure you will do the Gullapalli lab proud!
- Rama won the phase I of the NIH Complement ARIE RTP Challenge (top 20 teams selected out of 160 competing teams). Rama was the team captain of a team including members from industry (Human Chemical, PixlBio, InSphero, and Revivocell) alongside academics from Uppsala University. More details at:
- Dr. Rama Gullapalli would like to acknowledge and congratulate two graduating members from his lab:
We wish them all the best as they move on to the next phases of their careers! (July 2026)
- Dr. Rama Gullapalli was interviewed by the TV program, Good Morning America (GMA) in May 2026. Dr. Gullapalli was interviewed by journalist Becky Worley and was featured in the segment alongside the Matt Campen lab for their ongoing work into human microplastics pollution research. (June 2026)
- Ashwin Chinala was selected as the “Outstanding Senior Undergraduate CBE Student” by the faculty of the UNM Chemical and Biological Engineering Department for 2026. This is the highest undergraduate honor in the graduating class of UNM Chemical Engineering. Proud of you, Ashwin. Congratulations! (May 2026)
- Ashwin was awarded a second prize at the regional Rocky Mountain Regional AIChE conference held at the University of Utah on April 10th. Ashwin presented a poster titled "Development of an HPLC Assay to Measure Anti-Oxidant GSH and Lipid Peroxidation MDA to Understand Oxidative Stress in a Hepatocellular Model.” Congratulations, Ashwin! (Apr 2026)
- Rama, Rahul and Ashwin attended and presented at the annual Society of Toxicology meeting in San Diego from March 22nd to 25th. Rama presented an invited podium talk on Microplastics in the liver while Rahul and Ashwin presented on cadmium toxic effects on liver function. Congratulations, all! (Mar 2026)
- Three new pathology residents are joining the Gullapalli lab to pursue various project related to the use of digital pathology. These include: Dr. Mariam Posso, Dr. Theodore Muka and Dr. Federico Di Staso. They are working on a variety of DP/AI projects in pathology. Welcome to the team! (Jan 2026)
- Rama participated in the 1st ever Microplastics Exposure and Human Health Conference organized in Santa Fe, New Mexico from January 11th to 14th 2026. He presented a poster and chaired a session titled “Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Effects of Plastics” (Jan 2026)
- Rahul obtained a travel grant award from the UNM CCC to present his findings at the upcoming Society of Toxicology meeting in San Diego in March 2026. Congratulations, Rahul! (Jan 2026)
Lab mailing address:
915 Camino De Salud NE
Fitz Hall, Room 315
MSC08-4640
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
Rama R. Gullapalli, MD, PhD
Department of Pathology
Fitz Hall, Room 333A
University of New Mexico School of Medicine
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131