Associate Dean for Research
Nebraska Translational Research Center
Department of Growth and Development
Contact Information
UNMC College of Dentistry
525 S 42nd St, Room 30042
Omaha, NE 68105
402-552-6171
skumbar@unmc.edu
Education
- BSc: Karnatak University, Dharwad, India, 1997
- MSc: Karnatak University, Dharwad, India, 1999
- PhD: Karnatak University, Dharwad, India, 2003
- Postdoctoral Training: Research Associate, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 2004-2007
Research/Professional Interests
- Biomaterials and tissue engineering
- Drug delivery
- Wound healing, bone neural, soft tissue and composite tissue regeneration
Professional Memberships
- Society for Biomaterials
- Materials Research Society
- Orthapaedic Research Society
- Biomedical Engineering Society
- Controlled Release Society
- Life Member of Society for Polymer Science
Honors and Awards
- Top 2% of Scientists in the World (2020-2025)
- Member Elect, The Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering
- The Charles S. Neer Award in the basic science category, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons
- Research Fellowship (2000-2002), All India Council for Technical Education
- Prof. E. S. Jayadevappa Memorial Gold Medal (for first rank in M.Sc.), Karnatak University
- National Merit Scholarship (1982-1994), Government of India
Leadership and Editorial Roles
- Editorial Board, Journal of Functional Biomaterials (2022).
- Associate Editor, Bioactive Materials (2019).
- Associate Editor, Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology (2014).
- Editorial Board, Biomedical Physics and Engineering Express (2015).
- Editorial Board, Journal of Applied Polymer Science (2013).
- Editorial Board, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research (Part B) (2012).
- Editorial Board, Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology (2008-2014).
Selected Publications
- Abdulmalik S, Kumbar SG. Scar-reducing ionically conductive chitosan bandage: Combining ionic and electrical stimulation for optimal wound healing. Biomaterials. 2025, 326:123668. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123668. PMID: 40907395.
- Bordett, R., Abdulmalik, S., Zennifer, A., Wijekoon, S., Srinivasan, S.S., Coskun, E., Siddegowda, Y.K., Yu, X., Kumbar, S.G.* "Synergistic effects of electrical and chemical cues with biodegradable scaffolds for large peripheral nerve defect regeneration." Bioactive Materials 2025, 49, 586-607. PMID: 40212780
- Zennifer, A., Praveen Kumar, S.K., Bagewadi, S., Unnamalai, S., Chellappan, D., Abdulmalik, S., Yu, X., Sethuraman, S., Sundaramurthi, D.*, Kumbar, S.G.*Innovative spiral nerve conduits: Addressing nutrient transport and cellular activity for critical-sized nerve defects. Bioactive Materials. 2025, 44, 544–557. PMID: 39584067
- Abdulmalik, S., Gallo, J., Nip, J., Katebifar, S., Arul, M., Lebaschi, A., Munch, L.N., Bartly, J.M., Choudhary, S., Kalajzic, I., Banasavadi-Siddegowda, Y.K., Nukavarapu, S.P., Kumbar, S.G.* Nanogber Matrix Formulations for the Delivery of Exendin-4 for Tendon Regeneration: In Vitro and In Vivo Assessment. Bioactive Materials, 2023, 25, 42-60. PMID: 36733930
- Manoukian, O.S., Rudraiah, S., Arul, M.R., Bartley, J. M., Baker, J.T., Yu, X., Kumbar, S.G.* Biopolymer-nanotube nerve guidance conduit drug delivery for peripheral nerve regeneration: In vivo structural and functional assessment. Bioactive Materials 2021, 6 (9), 2881-2893. PMID: 33718669