Collaborative Research Efforts:
Presently, our research lab is working towards understanding of biochemical targets and mechanisms in metabolic disorders, with the goal of better management of diseases, through pharmacological and nutritional approaches. We utilize cell culture models, biochemical and molecular assays, and suitable computational tools to this end. Synthetic molecules / drugs and natural products are being evaluated for their pharmacological efficacy in treating metabolic disorders, in collaboration with faculty colleagues Prof. Pankaj K Sharma (Dept. of Biological Sciences) and Prof. S Murugesan (Dept of Pharmacy), BITS Pilani.
Collaborating with Prof. Navneet Gupta (Dept. of EEE) for developing microwave-imaging based technology for early cancer diagnosis. With Dr. Udit N Pal at CSIR-CEERI, Pilani, we are testing and exploring biomedical applications of cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet source, with initial leads on wound healing.
The research collaboration since 2005 with Dr. S. Krishnakumar (Department of Ocular Pathology), Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya (Chennai) involved the evaluation of molecular targets for diagnosis and therapy of retinoblastoma (a pediatric ocular cancer).The potential of fatty acid synthase (FASN) as a clinical target in retinoblastoma was evaluated using biochemical and molecular assays in primary tumor tissues and cultured cells, and bioinformatics techniques.
Since 2010, in collaboration with Dr. Padma Murali (Dept. of Mathematics, BITS Pilani), we have been developing bio-mathematical models to assess the disease burden imposed by key risk factors (co-morbidities) in the development of cardiovascular disease.
Another collaborative research effort has been with Dr. M. Surianarayanan's lab ( Senior Principal Scientist, Cell for Industrial Safety & Risk Analysis, Central Leather Research Institute (CSIR-CLRI) ), Chennai, in the areas of biochemical engineering for bioremediation and industrial bioprocesses. We also explored the biomedical applications of ionic liquids, as green solvents.
Research Funding from:
Indian Council of Medical Research [ICMR] : 2 projects completed, 1 on-going
Dept of Biotechnology [DBT], Govt of India : 2 projects completed, 1 on-going
University Grants Commission [UGC] : 1 project completed
CDRF, BITS Pilani : 1 on-going
[cross-disciplinary research framework ]
An Institute of Eminence
