A Special Interview with Dr. Takhar Kasumov, New Editorial Board Member of M&TOD

On August 10, 2024, the M&TOD Editorial Office had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Takhar Kasumov from Northeast Ohio Medical University. During the interview, Dr. Kasumov shared valuable insights into his groundbreaking research and future directions in metabolic studies, lipotoxicity, and proteomics. He provided an overview of his laboratory's current projects, which focus on understanding the mechanisms of metabolic diseases through innovative mass spectrometry techniques. His team has recently developed a novel method using stable isotope labeling to track ceramide synthesis and metabolism in real time, offering a more accurate depiction of ceramide dynamics and potential applications in studying metabolic diseases such as MASLD and type 2 diabetes. Looking forward, Dr. Kasumov identified key research areas that are likely to gain significant attention. He also offered advice to young scholars, emphasizing the importance of curiosity, perseverance, and effective communication. Additionally, Dr. Kasumov provided recommendations for increasing the visibility and impact of academic journals, including enhancing engagement with the academic community and promoting high-quality research articles.

Questions for the interview:

1. Could you briefly share the current research directions and key projects of your laboratory?

2. In your research on the relationship between hepatic and mitochondrial ceramides, you developed a novel method to track ceramide synthesis. How does this method improve our understanding of ceramide metabolism, and what potential applications could it have in studying metabolic diseases?

3. What research topics do you believe will attract special attention from scholars in the field of hepatology in the coming years?

4. What do you think is the most important quality for a scientist? Do you have any advice for young scholars aspiring to pursue a career in scientific research?

5. M&TOD recently passed the ESCI quality review and is expected to receive formal notification of inclusion soon. Once officially included, M&TOD will receive its first Impact Factor in June of next year. The next five months will be crucial for the journal’s first Impact Factor. As a new member of our Editorial Board, do you have any suggestions for increasing the visibility and impact of M&TOD?

Personal Introduction:

Dr. Takhar Kasumov graduated with distinction from the Chemistry Department of Moscow State University, USSR, in 1990. He was subsequently recommended for the Ph.D. program, earning his degree in organic synthesis in 1993 under the mentorship of Prof. Zefirov. Following graduation, Dr. Kasumov was recruited to the Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds at the Russian Academy of Sciences, where he was promoted to Senior Research Scientist in 1994. The following year, he was awarded a prestigious Russian Academy scholarship for advanced training in a Doctor of Science program at Moscow State University.

In 1997, Dr. Kasumov received a research scholarship at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in Cleveland, Ohio, supported by the National Institutes of Health. There, he trained under Prof. Brunengraber, focusing on stable isotope-based metabolic studies and liver and heart metabolism. By 2002, Dr. Kasumov was appointed as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition at CWRU, where he continued his research in metabolism.

In 2007, Dr. Kasumov joined the Cleveland Clinic, where he led the Mass Spectrometry Laboratory at the Liver Research Center within the Digestive Disease Institute. His expertise in mass spectrometry methodologies and metabolic studies led to significant contributions in the field. In 2015, he was recruited to direct the Proteomics Laboratory at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) and became a faculty member in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the College of Pharmacy.

Prof. Kasumov is well-known in the fields of metabolic studies, lipotoxicity, and proteomics. His group has developed innovative methods to study global proteome and acetylome dynamics. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed papers in chemistry and biomedical sciences, accumulating more than 4,700 citations and an H-index of 39.

Editor: Jennifer Lee
Language Editor: Catherine Yang
Production Editor: Yan Zhang
Respectfully Submitted by the Editorial Office of Metabolism and Target Organ Damage