Profile
Basic scientist with a PhD in Molecular biology (trained in Virology) and post-doctoral training in Functional genomics of Nuclear receptors. My laboratory investigates host-pathogen interactions during viral hepatitis, with a focus on understanding the mechanism of HEV pathogenesis and developing specific antivirals against it. A part of the laboratory is also actively engaged in development of a recombinant vaccine against HEV using bacterially expressed "virus-like particles" as the antigen. After the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic, my laboratory initiated studies towards understanding the life cycle of the SARS-CoV-2, with the goal of identifying novel antiviral targets against the pathogen. Around the same time, we also initiated research on mRNA vaccine technology with the aim of establishing a vaccine development platform.
Current Focus Areas
viral hepatitis, Hepatitis E virus, SARS-CoV-2, host-pathogen interaction, antivirals, HEV vaccine, circular mRNA vaccine, self-amplifying mRNA vaccine