Negesse Mekonnen Asrese

I have built a strong academic and research career that integrates veterinary medicine, pharmacology, and cancer biology, with a focus on translational oncology. With over a decade of higher education teaching experience, including roles as Lecturer and Assistant Professor, I have taught diverse subjects such as pharmacology, toxicology, epidemiology, and public health, helping shape the next generation of professionals. My research achievements center on unraveling the complexity of drug resistance and oncogene regulation, especially c-MYC, in cancers such as triple-negative breast cancer and non-small-cell lung cancer. I contributed new insights by demonstrating indirect strategies to target MYC through regulators such as BRD4 and RRM2, as well as approaches that enhance MYC mRNA knockdown via asymmetric siRNA. I also investigated MYC-driven DNA repair mechanisms, including RAD51, PARP1, RRM2, and γ-H2AX, advancing the understanding of therapeutic vulnerabilities. With international research training, publications, and mentoring experience, I remain committed to developing innovative precision therapies and drug discovery that benefit human health.

• 1. Mekonnen N, Yang H, Rajasekaran N, Song K, Choi Y-I, Shin YK. Indirect targeting of MYC and direct targeting in combination with chemotherapies are more effective than direct mono-targeting in triple negative breast cancer. Translational Oncology. 2025;51:102204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranon.2024.102204. #Citation: 1
• 2. Mekonnen N, Seo MR, Yang H, Chelakkot C, Choi JY, Hong S, et al. Design, Screening and Development of Asymmetric siRNAs Targeting the MYC Oncogene in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Biomol Ther (Seoul). 2024. https://doi.org/10.4062/biomolther.2024.071. #Citation: 0
• 3. Mekonnen N, Yang H, Shin YK. Homologous Recombination Deficiency in Ovarian, Breast, Colorectal, Pancreatic, Non-Small Cell Lung and Prostate Cancers, and the Mechanisms of Resistance to PARP Inhibitors. Frontiers in Oncology. 2022;12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.880643. #Citation: 75
• 4. Tamrat H, Mekonnen N, Ferede Y, Cassini R, Belayneh N. Epidemiological study on calf diarrhea and coccidiosis in dairy farms in Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia. Irish Veterinary Journal. 2020;73(1):14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13620-020-00168-w. #Citation: 38
• 5. Terefe Y, Girma S, Mekonnen N, Asrade B. Brucellosis and associated risk factors in dairy cattle of eastern Ethiopia. Tropical Animal Health and Production. 2017;49(3):599-606. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-017-1242-7. #Citation: 63
• 6. Mekonnen N, Makonnen E, Aklilu N, Ameni G. Evaluation of berries of Phytolacca dodecandra for growth inhibition of Histoplasma capsulatum var. farciminosum and treatment of cases of epizootic lymphangitis in Ethiopia. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine. 2012;2(7):505-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2221-1691(12)60086-0. #Citation: 31
• 7. Getachew T, Muktar Y, Mekonnen N, Tesma F. Prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes and efficacy of commonly used anthelmintics in different sheep breeds in Areka Agricultural Research Center, Areka, Ethiopia. Livestock Research for Rural Development. 2016;28(6). https://www.lrrd.org/lrrd28/6/mukt28117.html. #Citation: 13
• 8. Muktar Y, Asmelash M, Mekonnen N. Prevalence and associated risk factors of bovine trypanosomosis in Benatsemay district, Southomo zone, Ethiopia. Livestock Research for Rural Development. 2016;28(12). https://www.lrrd.cipav.org.co/lrrd28/12/mukt28228.htm. #Citation: 13
• 9. Negesse Mekonnen and Endalkachew abebe. Ethnobotanical knowledge and practices of traditional healers in Harar, Haramaya, Bati and Garamuleta, Eastern Ethiopia. Ethiopian Veterinary Journal. 2017;21(2):40-61. https://doi.org/10.4314/evj.v21i2.4. #Citation: 18
• 10. Haile G, Mekonnen N, Lelisa K, Habtamu Y. Vector identification, prevalence and anemia of bovine trypanosomosis in Yayo District, Illubabor Zone of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Ethiopian Veterinary Journal. 2016;20(1):39-54. https://doi.org/10.4314/evj.v20i1.3. #Citation: 18
• 11. Endalkachew Abebe and Negesse Mekonnen. In vitro antibacterial activity of Rumex nervosus, Plantago lanceolata, Solanum incanum and Lepidium sativum against selected bacterial pathogens of human and animals. Ethiopian Veterinary Journal. 2016;20(2):119-131. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/evj.v20i2.9. #Citation: 15

• PhD thesis: A Strategic Approach to Targeting the MYC Oncogene with Asymmetric siRNA in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
• MSc thesis 1: Genetic Characterization of Trypanosoma vivax from East and West Africa
• MSc thesis 2: Evaluation of Phytolacca dodecandra for Growth Inhibition of Histoplasma capsulatum variety farciminosum and Treatment of Cases of Epizootic Lymphangitis in Central Ethiopia.
• DVM thesis: Cross-sectional study of Bovine Tuberculosis in Butajira Municipal Abattair, Ethiopia.

• Supervised 2 master's thesis degree students at Bahir Dar University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ethiopia.
• I supervised more than 15 DVM students for their thesis at Haramaya University, Ethiopia.
• Currently as a postdoctoral student, I am mentoring PhD students at Seoul National University, Korea.

• Https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0251-1456
• Https://www.linkedin.com/in/negesse-mekonnen-2968b532/
• Https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55201693500
• Https://scholar.google.co.kr/citations?user=pGnwDxUAAAAJ&hl=en

Currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at Seoul National University, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences.