My initial foray in science was in the field of microbiology, in which I completed the post-graduate studies. The spark provided by my teachers then led to a pursuit of my PhD in the field of human genetics at Christian Medical College, Vellore. Here, as part of my responsibilities, I was closer to patient-care in the form of providing carrier and prenatal diagnosis in families suffering from bleeding disorders. Subsequently, the desire to do translational science saw myself entering into a postdoctoral stint in the field of gene therapy at the University of Florida. The fascinating experience in this field using viral vectors seemed to sync my training in microbiology and human genetics thus far. After this, I started my laboratory and our thrust is to inch towards the unmet needs in our field, i.e., minimize host-immune complications and improve efficiency of viral vector mediated gene transfer.
Any problem has a solution when we pay enough respect and close attention to our fellow (including minutest) life forms. Even if it happens to be a 20nm virus! We thus started dissecting out the biology of adeno-associated virus and its host cellular interactions. Our studies have traversed through the virus-host life cycle; dissected the tug-of-war initiated between these players to establish primacy and dwell on how it is possible to alter this milieu in favor of the virus to generate improved gene delivery strategies. The promising leads are then tested in pre-clinical models. We are now in pursuit of translation of these novel technologies in a clinical setting. As we continue in this path, despite many challenges, one realizes that doing good science and interacting with team members who put in enormous efforts in solving these questions, every day in the lab, has this scientific pursuit worthy.
Professional experience
| Aug 2021- Present | Associate Dean, Research and Development, IIT-Kanpur |
| Dec 2019- Present | Professor, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, IIT-Kanpur |
| Oct 2014- Dec 2019 | Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, IIT-Kanpur |
| 2013-Sep 2014 | Associate Professor, Department of Hematology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India |
| 2008-2013 | Assistant Professor, Department of Hematology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India |
| 2010- Sep 2014 | Adjunct Scientist, Center for Stem Cell Research, Christian Medical College, Vellore,India |
| 2007-2009 | Post Doctoral Fellow, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA |
| 2001-2006 | Lecturer (MSc), Department of Hematology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India |
| Professional Membership: | |
| 2020 | International Society of Cell and Gene Therapy |
| 2019 - Present | Member, The American Society of Hematology |
| 2019 - Present | Member, The American Chemical Society |
| 2011 - Present | Member, International Society for Thrombosis and Hemostasis. |
| 2010 - Present | Member, European Society for Gene and Cell Therapy. |
| 2010 - Present | Indian Society for Hematology and Transfusion Medicine. |
| 2007 - Present | Member, American Society for Gene and Cellular Therapy. |
| Other Professional Duties: | |
| 2010 - Present | Ad hoc reviewer for:
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| Honors, Awards & Recognitions: | |
| 2022 - 24 | Chair, Training sub-committee, Education and Outreach Committee, International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, USA. |
| 2022 - 24 | Chair, "Global outreach Committee" American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, Washington DC, USA. |
| 2021 - 24 | Invited Member, "International Committee" American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, Washington DC, USA. |
| 2020 - 22 | Vice Chair, Training sub-committee, Education and outreach Committee, International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, USA. |
| 2020 - 22 | Invited Member, "Global Outreach Committee" American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, Washington DC, USA. |
| 2020 | Associate Editor, Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (Wiley) |
| 2020 | Editorial Board, Molecular Therapy Methods & Clinical Development. (Cell Press) |
| 2020 | Editorial Board, Human Gene Therapy (Mary Ann Liebert) |
| 2020 | Editorial Board, Cancer Gene Therapy (Nature Publishing) |
| 2019 | Global Hemophilia ASPIRE Research Award, Pfizer Inc, USA. |
| 2019 - 22 | Invited Member, "Physical Delivery, Therapeutics & Vector Development Committee" American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, Washington DC, USA |
| 2017-22 | Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance Senior Fellowship |
| 2017 | CDRI award for Excellence in Drug Research (Life sciences) |
| 2016 - 20 | Invited member, Education and outreach committee, International Society for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, USA. |
| 2015 | B.M. Birla Science Prize in Biology for the year 2014 |
| 2015 | Bayer hemophilia awards 2nd global webinar winner |
| 2015 - 18 | Joy Gill Chair Professor, IIT-Kanpur |
| 2014-20 | Associate Editor, Indian Journal of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine (Springer) |
| 2014 - 20 | Invited Member, Hematology and immunology Gene and Cell therapy Committee, American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, Washington DC, USA. |
| 2014-17 | Senior Innovative Young Biotechnologist award, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India |
| 2014 | Young scientist award, YIM Boston, USA |
| 2012-17 | Swarnajayanti Fellowship, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India |
| 2011 - 2014 | Invited Member, Laboratory Sciences Technical Committee, World Federation of Hemophilia, Montreal, Canada |
| 2011 | Innovative Young Biotechnologist award, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India |
| 2011 | Eberhard Mammen Young Investigator award, Thieme Publishers |
| 2010 | Bayer Hemophilia Early Career Investigator Award, Bayer Inc, USA |
| 2009 | Abstract achievement award, 12th American Society of Gene Therapy meeting, San Diego, USA |
| 2006 | Overseas associate fellowship, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India |
| 2006 | Indo-Italian visiting scientist by Governments of India/Italy, for 2-months training in Angelo Bianchi Bonomi Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Milan, Italy. |
| 2004 | JC Patel Best paper award, Indian Society for Hematology and Transfusion Medicine meeting |
| 2003 | Reach the world grant, International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis XIX congress at Birmingham, U.K. |
| 1999 | First rank in Madras University during Masters in Microbiology |
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