Bioengineering Archives - Page 2 of 2

Porkizhi Arjunan

Ms. Porkizhi Arjunan is a Ph.D. candidate at the Centre for Stem Cell Research, Vellore, Tamil Nadu. Her doctoral research focuses on targeted non-viral vector-based gene therapy for hemophilia A and B (HA and HB) disorders, and her goal is to reduce bleeding in hemophilia patients while avoiding additional complications. During her Ph.D., she has also worked on other projects, such as making innovative nano-lithocholic lipidoids—a potential class of therapeutics for treating psoriasis. Furthermore, using novel liposomes, she assisted in the production of SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirions during the Covid-19 outbreak and contributed to the finding that Omicron infection increases IgG binding to spike protein of predecessor variants. Her research has been published in peer-reviewed international journals and has been presented at several national and international conferences.

Ms. Arjunan holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in biotechnology from Pondicherry University, Puducherry and Bharathidasan University, Tamil Nadu respectively. She also holds a diploma in computer applications and training. In addition to her work, she has a strong interest in social work, and likes traveling and meeting people from different cultures.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research fellow, Ms. Arjunan is exploring the potential reach of the proposed “Development of Lipid Nanoparticle guided chemically modified Factor FVIII mRNA/NE-DNA Nucleic Acid Therapeutics for Hemophilia A.”

Gourinath Samudrala

Prof. Gourinath Samudrala is Professor in the School of Life Sciences at Jawaharlal Nehru University. He earned his M.Sc in biotechnology from the University of Pune and his Ph.D. from AIIMS, New Delhi. Before joining JNU, he worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at Brandeis University, MA. Prof. Samudrala is well-recognized by several national organizations and science academies. Recently, he was awarded the STAR research award 2021 by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Government of India. He was also awarded the Innovative Young Biotechnologist Award, 2006 and the National Bioscience Award, 2013 by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. In addition, he is a recipient of Indo-US Science and Technology fellowship, 2010, Visitors Award from President of India, 2016 and was elected as a fellow of prestigious Indian National Science Academy in 2018.

During his Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence fellowship, Prof. Samudrala is constructing and validating an artificial sarcomere using E. histolytica myosins. Understanding how myosins evolved is not only important to uncover the secrets of sarcomere, but also enables us to gain insights into how these molecules sustained the natural selection pressure. Will the filamentous unit from Entamoeba histolytica myosin-II be remarkably different from human nonmuscle myosin-II and other myosin-IIs. Prof. Samudrala’s project is exploring the possibility of artificial sarcomere/muscle fiber generation of an amoeboid myosin or any other myosin.

Kashif Hanif

Dr. Kashif Hanif is a Principal Scientist in the Department of Pharmacology at CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. He received his postgraduate degree (1998-2000) from Jamia Hamdard and completed his Ph.D. (2001-2006) from CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi. He has been a faculty member at CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute since 2006. His primary research interest revolves around the patho-physiology of Pulmonary Hypertension (PH), which is quite common at high altitude and in lung disorders, especially in women. He developed the rodent model of PH and standardized techniques to study right ventricular pressure and pulmonary vasorelaxation. Over the past decade, he has explored the role of Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1, Fatty Acid Synthase, Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase -2 (MK2) and estrogen receptors in PH.

Dr. Hanif was awarded the Dr. DN Prasad Memorial Oration Award, Indian Council of Medical Research in 2019 and Prof. Suresh C Tyagi Award, Indian Academy of Cardiovascular Research in 2017 for his work in PH. He has received six competitive research grants from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), and the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM).

During his Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence fellowship, Dr. Hanif aims to understand right ventricle hypertrophy, a common problem of PH in lung diseases in women. Therefore, he is developing a rodent model of right ventricle hypertrophy by pulmonary artery banding (PAB). He is further exploring the role of estrogen receptors in right ventricle hypertrophy by using Raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). This approach will help to clinically repurpose SERMs for cardio-pulmonary complications in women.

Kavita Haribhau Kadu

Dr. Kavita Haribhau Kadu is a chemical technologist with a bachelor’s degree from the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai. Following her undergraduate studies, she embarked on a research journey as a Junior Research Fellow at BITS Pilani – K. K. Birla Goa campus. She pursued her Ph.D. from BITS Pilani – K. K. Birla Goa campus on the synthesis and characterization of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles and investigation of their interaction with biomolecules.

Transitioning to the TNBC Precision Medicine Research Group at Tata Memorial Centre Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Dr. Kadu delved into studying the short-term chemotherapy effect on the expression of the GPX4 gene on triple-negative breast cancer subtypes. She showcased her research acumen by securing the Lalit Memorial award at the 18th National Research Scholars Meet held in ACTREC. Throughout her research journey, she demonstrated a commitment to scholarly dissemination, publishing eight papers and actively participating in conferences.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research fellow at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Dr. Kadu is developing Aptamer-siRNA Chimera as a novel targeted therapy for pediatric medulloblastoma. Investigating the roles of AXL and interferons, she aims to contribute significantly to understanding and treating this aggressive brain tumor. With interdisciplinary expertise and a passion for impactful research, Dr. Kadu is set to make substantial contributions to cancer biology and precision medicine, shaping the future of innovative therapeutic interventions.

Sonika Chibh

Dr. Sonika Chibh is a postdoctoral fellow at Tel Aviv University, Israel. She obtained her B.Tech. in biotechnology degree from Jaypee University of Information Technology, Solan, Himachal Pradesh in 2014, and her master’s (M.Tech.) in biotechnology from Thapar University, Patiala, Punjab in 2016. She then received her Ph.D. in 2022 from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research/ Institute of Nanoscience and Technology Mohali, Punjab. Her Ph.D. work focused on the formation of self-assembled peptide-based nanoparticles as a drug delivery system in cancer therapy. Her postdoctoral research at Tel Aviv University focused on the development of monoclonal antibodies against phenylalanine for the treatment of phenylketonuria, with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Dr. Sonika Chibh has published several research articles in recognized international journals during her Ph.D. and postdoctoral studies. She received a George S. Wise Post-doctoral fellowship at Tel Aviv University in 2022. During her Ph.D. she received the Young Researcher award in an oral presentation organized by SYBS in 2021. She also received the Best Poster award in Bengaluru Nano in 2022.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Dr. Chibh is working on a project entitled “Design of Chemokine-Based Self-Assembled Nanoparticles for Receptor-mediated Specific Drug Delivery”. This project is in collaboration with Dr. Shuguang Zhang and MIT Institute Professor Robert Langer, who is the father of controlled drug delivery.

Nilotpal Majumder

Nilotpal Majumder is a Ph.D. candidate at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. He is currently designing a biomimetic chemically modified silk fibroin gelatin bioink for 3D bioprinting of cartilage tissue. His doctoral thesis primarily focuses on modulating the associated chondrogenic signalling pathways using various small-molecule modulators to develop phenotypically stable articular cartilage grafts. He has publications in reputed journals like Advanced Functional Materials, Advanced Healthcare Materials, and ACS Applied Material & Interfaces.

Nilotpal holds a BTech-MTech dual degree in biotechnology from KIIT University, Bhubaneswar. He worked on a project funded by the government of India (BIRAC) as a project engineer to develop an automated electromagnetic wave-based tissue processing device.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research fellow at Tufts University, Medfor, MA, Nilotpal is exploring various external cues (microgravity, magnetism) to induce cellular assembly within the 3D bio-printed constructs. The main objective of his research will be to develop a 3D bio-printed macroscale organoid that can closely recapitulate the native human tissue microarchitecture and physiology. In his free time, he enjoys reading non-fiction, watching sci-fi movies and television series, and exploring historical places.

Lubhanshi

Lubhanshi is a Ph.D. candidate at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai. Her thesis focuses on the specificity of effector proteases towards host proteins that are crucial in host proteasomal degradation pathways. Using techniques such as fluorescence spectroscopy and mutational analysis, she is looking for the mechanism of selective recognition of ubiquitin-like proteins by deubiquitinating enzymes.

Lubhanshi holds a bachelor’s degree in science from Kurukshetra University, and a master’s degree in chemistry from Guru Jambeshwar University of Science and Technology, Haryana. As a researcher, she likes to participate in science outreach programs.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research fellow, Lubhanshi is exploring the host pathways that are affected by the deubiquitinating enzymes. Primarily, her focus lies in understanding how various effector proteases impact the host’s ubiquitination machinery, thereby facilitating the pathogens’ survival and replication. In her leisure time, she likes to sketch and paint. She enjoys travelling and exploring nature and diverse food from various cultures.

Manzoor Koyakutty

Dr Manzoor Koyakutty is a Professor at Amrita Center for Nanoscience and Molecular Medicine, Kochi. He has worked extensively in molecular mechanisms responsible for cancer progression, drug-resistance, and tumor immunology, and developed many novel cancer-nanomedicine formulations and immunotherapeutic for leukemia, liver tumor and glioblastoma. His lab currently investigates systemic immune-suppression in peripheral organs as well as local tumor-microenvironment and developing novel nano-bio engineering tools to overcome such immune-suppression.

He has published > 150 papers in peer reviewed journals including Biomaterials, Small, J. of Controlled Release, Sci. Reports, Int. J Immunopharmacology with H-index 48 and citation 10530, and filed 40 patents of which 20 granted and 06 licensed for translational development. He was elected as Fellow of National Academy of Science, India (2017), top 2% scientist by Stanford University rating, 2022, received Amrita University Faculty Gold Medal 2023, and Chancellors Award 2024.

During the Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowship, he is working with Dr Henry Brem and Dr Betty Tylor, Glioma Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, USA, for the combinatorial targeting of brain tumor immuno-biology using intracranially injectable nano-hydrogel system. This work may help glioma patients to have better therapeutic outcome.