Professional Profile

• PhD (Biochemistry), All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
• MSc (Medical Biochemistry), Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India

• CCIL Full Member; Cancer Center at Illinois (CCIL), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Dr. Singh’s research focuses on the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms that drive cancer progression and therapeutic response, to develop more effective and personalized treatments. He uses a multidisciplinary approach that integrates molecular biology, epigenomics, transcriptomics, and translational models to identify pathways that govern sensitivity or resistance to chemotherapy and targeted therapies.

During his postdoctoral training at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Singh identified biomarkers predicting responses to mitotic and PI3K/mTOR inhibitors in head and neck and lung cancers. These discoveries contributed to the initiation of a clinical trial in HNSCC. At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, his work centers on testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs), where he has defined critical roles for polycomb signaling and DNA methylation in shaping cisplatin response. In a recent study, his work elucidated that TGCTs overexpress DNA methyltransferase 3B and are more sensitive to very low doses of DNA hypomethylating agents than somatic cancer cells. This discovery led to a successful phase 1b clinical trial testing demethylation therapy for the treatment of cisplatin-resistant testicular cancer patients. Most recently, his group has validated polycomb-targeted therapies for cisplatin-refractory testicular cancer, suggesting that targeting the polycomb pathway likely offers a promising second epigenetic treatment option for chemotherapy-resistant cases. Across his research, Dr. Singh aims to translate molecular insights into new therapeutic strategies that improve outcomes for patients with refractory cancers.

View Dr. Singh’s publications in PubMed.

View Dr. Singh’s publications in the NIH National Center of Biotechnical Information.

View Dr. Singh’s profile at the Cancer Center at Illinois.

View Dr. Singh’s publications on Google Scholar.

Dr. Singh completed his Ph.D. in Biochemistry at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. He continued his training in molecular and translational oncology through postdoctoral positions at MD Anderson Cancer Center and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, before joining the Department of Comparative Biosciences as a research faculty. Over the years, he has held roles ranging from postdoctoral scholar to research faculty, gaining broad experience in academic leadership, mentoring,  scientific integrity, and collaborative problem-solving. 

At Illinois, Dr. Singh is deeply involved in supporting both research and education. He teaches biochemistry, mentors undergraduate and graduate students, and contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives across the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Cancer Center at Illinois. He also serves the broader scientific community through editorial work, peer review, and participation in professional organizations. 

Dr. Singh is passionate about working with students and trainees, helping them build confidence and curiosity in science. He values teamwork, thoughtful mentorship, and a positive, supportive academic environment. Outside his professional roles, he enjoys continuous learning and connecting with people across the community.

• VM602 Biochemistry

• Epigenetic Therapy for Refractory Testicular Germ Cell Tumors 
• Testicular Germ Cell Tumors as a Sentinel Cancer of PFAS Exposure
• Role of microRNA in testicular germ cell tumors

• Title: G0S2 as a master regulator of the local estrogenic environment during breast cancer progression and antiestrogen therapy
  DOD FY22 Breakthrough Award Level 1, BC221269 (08/01/2023-07/31/26; Total $690,539); PI: Spinella, Co-I: Singh
• Title: Targeting hypermethylation to overcome cisplatin resistance in patients with relapsed/refractory germ cell tumors.
  DOD Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) - Impact Award   (09/30/3024-09/29/2027; Total $1,295,691)
  PI: Darren Feldman, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Subcontract PI: Spinella; Subcontract co-I: Singh. This is an award to conduct a phase Ib clinical trial through the Children's Oncology Group (COG) and the Malignant Germ Cell International Consortium (MaGIC) based on the basic science work of Spinella/Singh. Spinella/Singh will perform and oversee basic science correlates on patient samples from the trial.
• Title: The Promise of Epigenetic Therapy for Refractory Testicular Germ Cell Tumors. 
  DOD Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) - Impact Award (09/30/3025-09/29/2028; Total: $1,479,777)
  PI: Spinella; Co-PI: Singh
• Title: Testicular Germ Cell Tumors as a Sentinel Cancer of PFAS Exposure
  DOD Rare Cancers Research Program (RCRP) Idea Development Award
  (09/30/2025-09/29/2028; Total: $555,100)
  PI: Spinella; Co-PI: Singh

• The Jeffrey Lee Cousin Fellowship, for significant contribution to lung cancer research at the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 
• Award of Excellence, for best presentation at the Carcinogenesis Foundation, New Delhi, India 
• Nature Publishing Group Award for best poster ‘Cell Death’ Gordon Research Conference, Tuscany II, Ciocco, Italy.
• Travel Grant 2012 from the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India for attending ‘Cell Death’ Gordon Research Conference, Tuscany II Ciocoo, Italy.
• Senior Research Fellow (2011 - 2014) by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India.
• Junior Research Fellow (2008 - 2011) by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India.

• CCIL Full Member; Comparative and Engineered Oncology Models, Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 

• Illinois Researcher Links Epigenetics to Treatment of Testicular Germ Cell Tumors. https://cancer.illinois.edu/illinois-researcher-links-epigenetics-to-treatment-of-testicular-germ-cell-tumors/ 
• Testicular Cancer Awareness Month: Research Team Working Toward New Options for Patients. https://cancer.illinois.edu/national-testicular-cancer-awareness-month-research-team-working-toward-new-options-for-patients/ 
• New Study Shows ‘Forever Chemicals’ Linked to Testicular Cancer Tumor Growth. https://cancer.illinois.edu/new-study-shows-forever-chemicals-linked-to-testicular-cancer-tumor-growth/ 

Dr. Singh is a cancer biologist by training, and his research explores how molecular signaling and epigenetic changes shape tumor behavior and response to therapy. As a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, he focuses mainly on testicular germ cell tumors, uncovering how pathways such as polycomb signaling and DNA methylation determine whether these cancers remain sensitive—or become resistant—to cisplatin. His discoveries have helped guide a recent clinical trial testing epigenetic therapy for patients with treatment-refractory disease. Dr. Singh also studies how developmental genes, including G0S2, influence breast cancer progression and endocrine therapy response. 

Dr. Singh’s research draws on modern genomic and epigenomic tools, functional modeling, and close collaboration with clinicians and basic scientists. He is the author of numerous peer-reviewed publications, contributes to scientific review and editorial work, and is committed to training the next generation of researchers. Above all, he aims to translate molecular discoveries into meaningful advances for cancer patients.

• Shokry D, Khan MW, Powell C, Johnson S, Rennels BC, Boyd RI, Sun Z, Fazal Z, Freemantle SJ, Parker MH, Vieson MD, Samuelson JP, Spinella MJ*, Singh R*. Refractory testicular germ cell tumors are highly sensitive to the targeting of polycomb pathway demethylases KDM6A and KDM6B. Cell Commun Signal. 2024 Oct 31;22(1):528. doi: 10.1186/s12964-024-01912-3. *corresponding author
• Corbet AK, Bikorimana E, Boyd RI, Shokry D, Kries K, Gupta A, Paton A, Sun Z, Fazal Z, Freemantle SJ, Nelson ER, Spinella MJ*, Singh R*. G0S2 promotes antiestrogenic and pro-migratory responses in ER+ and ER- breast cancer cells. Transl Oncol. 2023 doi.org/10.1016/j.tranon.2023.101676 *corresponding author
• Singh R, Fazal Z, Bikorimana E, Boyd RI, Yerby C, Tomlin M, Baldwin H, Shokry D, Corbet AK, Shahid K, Hattab A, Freemantle SJ, Spinella MJ. Reciprocal epigenetic remodeling controls testicular cancer hypersensitivity to hypomethylating agents and chemotherapy. Mol Oncol. 2022 doi: 10.1002/1878-0261.13096
• Singh R*, Fazal Z*, Fang F, Bikorimana E, Baldwin H, Corbet A, Tomlin M, Yerby C, Adra N, Albany C, Lee S, Freemantle SJ, Nephew KP,   Christensen BC, Spinella MJ. Hypermethylation and global remodeling of DNA methylation associated with acquired cisplatin resistant in testicular germ cell tumors. Epigenetics. 2020; doi: 10.1080/15592294.2020.1834926   *first co-author 
• Singh R, Fazal Z, Corbet AK, Bikorimana E, Rodriguez JC, Khan EM, Shahid K, Freemantle SJ, Spinella MJ. Epigenetic Remodeling through Downregulation of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 Mediates Chemotherapy Resistance in Testicular Germ Cell Tumors. Cancers (Basel). 2019; 11. doi: 10.3390/cancers11060796.