Overview

There are over 20 projects that are currently being done by the faculty and staff of the department. Some of there are in collaboration with international as well as with other Indian institutes and companies.

• Ongoing Projects

  • Dr. Mukul Joshi (PI)“Exploring known and novel HSPs and HSFs in a thermotolerant plant Prosopis cineraria by genome-wide studies, and application of genome editing for enhanced heat stress tolerance in rice" Funding Agency: DBT; Sanctioned Amount: (42.5 Lakhs); Duration: 6 Years (Nov 2019- Oct 2024).

  • Asish Das (PI), Syamantak M (Co-investigator)“Antisense, sense and epigenetics in severe malaria" Funding Agency: ICMR; Sanctioned Amount: (143.00 Lakhs); Duration: 4 Years (Dec 2019- Nov 2022).

  • Meghana Tare“ Understanding the genetic interactions of parkin and α-Synuclein affecting pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease" Funding Agency: DST; Sanctioned Amount: (24.00 lakhs); Duration: 4 Years (Nov 2019-October 2022).

  • Dr. Rajdeep Chowdhury (PI)“ High altitude-hypoxia mediates thrombosis in soldiers; modulation of autophagy as a strategy to combat high altitude-hypoxia induced thrombosis" Funding Agency: DRDO; Sanctioned Amount: (42.5 Lakhs); Duration: 4 Years (Nov 2019-October 2022).

  • Dr. Syamantak Majumder (PI)“ Studying the Efficacy of ADAM Inhibitors in Treating Diabetic Nephropathy" Funding Agency: ICMR; Sanctioned Amount: (33.00 Lakhs laks); Duration: 4 Years (Sep 2019-Aug 2022).
     
  • Prof. Shibasish Chowdhury“Repurposing of CNS accumulating drugs as autophagy modulators for potential treatment against glioblastoma: an in-silico, in-vitro and in-vivo study" Funding Agency: ICMR; Sanctioned Amount: (33.00 Lakhs laks); Duration: 4 Years (Sep 2019-Aug 2022).
     
  • Dr. Sudeshna Mukherjee(PI)“Analyzing the cross-talk between Autophagy, Cytoskeletal and Mitochondrial Dynamicity regulating Epithelial to mesenchymal Transition(EMT) in Human Glioblastoma Cells" Funding Agency: (CSIR-Extra Mural); Sanctioned Amount: (17.00 laks); Duration: 4 Years (August2019-July2022).

  •  Dr. Sudeshna Mukherjee(PI)“Analyses of mitochondrial regulation in parental and drug resistant human brain cancer cells and understanding its functional implications" Funding Agency: ACRG-BITS; Sanctioned Amount: (4.00 laks); Duration: 3 Years (January 2019 to Jan 2021).

  • Prof. Prabhat Nath Jha“Development of sensors for blast and blight diseases and stomatal activity measurement in rice (O. Sativa L.)" Funding Agency: ICAR-NASF; Sanctioned Amount: (23.98 Lakhs); Duration: 4 Years (June 2019- May 2022).

  • Dr. Meghana Tare (PI)“Insights into genetic interactions manifesting to onset and progression of the Parkinson's Disease" Funding Agency: CRG - BITS Pilani; Sanctioned Amount: (6.1 laks); Duration: 3 Years (January 2019 to Jan 2021).

  • Dr. Syamantak Majumder (Co-PI)“Development of 1-D nanomaterials based selective sensor system for non-invasive detection of complications of diabetes mellitus and asthama by breath analysis technique" Funding Agency: DBT; Sanctioned Amount: (46.5 lakhs); Duration: 4 Years (March 2019 to Feb 2022).

  • Dr. Syamantak Majumder (PI)“Epigenetics of Endothelial Dysfunction during Cardiovascular Disease" Funding Agency: DST; Sanctioned Amount: (45 lakhs); Duration: 4 Years (March 2019 to Feb 2022).

  • Prof. Rajdeep Chowdhury(PI)“Understanding hyperglycemia induced alterations in non-coding RNA expression pattern and post–translational histone protein modifications contributing to drug resistance and progression of pancreatic cancer" Funding Agency: DST; Sanctioned Amount: (40.00lacs); Duration: 4 Years (Sep2018 to Aug 2021).

  • Dr. Sudeshna Mukhejee (PI)“Analysis of mitochondrial dynamicity (fusion/fission and mitophagy) post drug exposure in human glioblastoma cells and understanding its correlation with drug resistance" Funding Agency: DST; Sanctioned Amount: (27.00lacs); Duration: 4 Years (Nov 2018 to Oct 2021).

  • Dr. Sandhya Marathe (PI)“To investigate the mechanism of CRISPR-Cas regulated biofilm formation in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium" Funding Agency: DST; Sanctioned Amount: (43.71 lacs); Duration: 4 Years (Nov 2018 to Oct 2021).

  • Dr. Sandhya Marathe (PI)“Investigate role of CRISPR-Cas system in pathogenesis of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhiumurium." Funding Agency: CRG - BITS Pilani; Sanctioned Amount: (7.5 lacs); Duration: 3 Years (Feb 2018 - Jan 2020).

  • Dr. Rajdeep Chowdhury (Co-PI)“Activity targeted nano-formulations for co-delivery of a taxane and anti-oxidant molecule, alpha lipoic acid for treating breast cancer" Funding Agency: DST; Sanctioned Amount: (11.136 Lacs); Duration: 4 Years (2018-21). 

  • Dr. Syamantak Majumder (PI)“Understanding the role of long non coding RNA in glomerular endothelial cell dysfunction during diabetic nephropathy" Funding Agency: CRG, BITS; Sanctioned Amount: (8.5 Lacs); Duration: 3 Years (Mar 2018 to Feb 2020). 

  • Dr S K Verma (PI), Dr Jitendra Panwar Co-PI, Dr Suresh Gupta Co-PI, Prof A P Singh Co-PI) “Integrated Approach for the Efficient Removal and Recovery of Zinc from the Viscose Fiber Process" Funding Agency: Aditya Birla Group; Sanctioned Amount: (49.42 Lacs); Duration: 3 Years (June 2018- Oct 2020).

  • (PI: Dr. Jola Dubey) " Production and use of indigenous local strains of microbial pesticides through trainings, demonstrations and installation of cost effective production units for the farmers of Rajasthan" Funding Agency: Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi; Duration- 3 years (2018-2021)

  • (PI- Anirudh, Dept of Pharmacy), Dr. Rajdeep Chowdhury (Co-PI)“Evaluation of anti-tumor efficacy and pharmacokinetics of polymeric nanoparticle formulation targeted to cancer stem cells" Funding Agency: DST; Sanctioned Amount: (33.86 Lacs); Duration: 3 Years (2016-19).

• Projects Completed

  • (PI: Dr. Jitendra Panwar) “Nano technology for enhanced utilization of native-phosphorous by plants and higher moisture retention in arid soils” Funding Agency: Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Govt. of India, New Delhi; Sanctioned Amount: 6.147119 Crore (41.539 Lakh); Duration: 6 Years (2008-2014).
    
  • (PI: Dr. Jitendra Panwar) “Mechanistic studies on extracellular biosynthesis of metal  nanoparticles” Funding Agency: Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govt. of India, New Delhi; Sanctioned Amount: 45.5 Lakh; Duration: 3 Years (2013-2016).
    
  • (PI: Dr. Lalita Gupta) “Characterization of immune signaling pathway in Anopheles mosquitoes” Funding Agency: Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govt. of India, New Delhi; 21.2 Lakhs, Duration: 3 years (2012-2015).
    
  • (PI: Dr. Pankaj Kumar Sharma) “Phytochemical and Metabolic Characterization of Prosopis cineraria pods (sangri) as potential nutraceuticals” Funding Agency: SERB- Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govt. of India, New Delhi; Sanctioned amount Rs. 21.3 Lakhs. Duration: 3 years (2012-2015)
    
  • (PI: Dr. Prabhat Nath Jha, Co PI: Dr. S.K. Verma, Dr. Rajesh Mehrotra,) “Molecular Characterization of ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate) Deaminase Activity of Associative Bacteria Isolated from Plants of Desert of Rajasthan”. Funding Agency: Department of Biotechnology, Govt of India, New Delhi; Sanctioned amount: 41.35 Lakh. Duration: 3 years (2012-2015).
    
  • (PI: Dr. Rajdeep Chowdhury) “Role of Pro-inflammatory Cytokines in Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Hepatocellular Carcinoma”. Funding Agency: Research Initiation Grant, BITS Pilani; Sanctioned amount: 2 Lakhs; Duration: 2 years (2013-2015).
    
  • PI: Dr. Rajdeep Chowdhury) “Role of Hippo Signaling Pathway Components in Autophagy Regulation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma". Funding Agency: SERB- Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govt. of India, New Delhi; Sanctioned amount: 24 Lakhs; Duration: 3 years (2013-16).
    
  • (PI: Dr. Rajdeep Chowdhury) “"Identifying microRNA Signatures Associated with Autophagy Induced Chemoresistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma". Funding Agency:  UGC, New Delhi, India, Sanctioned amount: 6 lakhs Duration: 2013-15.
    
  • (PI: Dr. Sandhya Mehrotra):  SERB fast track project entitled, "Analyzing structural and functional evolutionary relationship between RubisCO and carbon concentrating mechanism proteins”. Funding agency: SERB- Department of Science and Technology, Govt of India. Sanctioned amount: 23.96 Lakhs. Duration; 3 years (2013-16). 
    
  • (PI: Dr. Sanjeev Kumar, Co-PI: Lalita Gupta) “Molecular characterization of Anopheles stephensi guts epithelial peroxidases and their role in modulating immunity against bacterial and fungal antigens” Funding Agency: Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, Sanctiioned amount: 47.18 Lakhs, Duration: 3 years (2012-15).
    
  • (PI: Dr. Santosh Kumar Padhi): “Enzymatic kinetic resolution of racemic amidoalkyl naphthols and their derivatives”. Funding Agency: Research Initiation Grant, BITS Pilani, Sanctioned amount 2.00 lacs; Duration: 2 years (2012-2014).
    
  • (PI: Dr. Santosh Kumar Padhi): "Enzyme Catalyzed Kinetic Resolution of (a) Racemic Amidoalkylnaphthols and (b) Racemic 1-Amidomethyl-Imidazo[1,2-a]Pyridines". Funding Agency:  UGC, New Delhi, India, Sanctioned Amount : 6 Lakhs; Duration: 2 years (2013 -  2015).
    
  • (PI: Dr. Santosh Kumar Padhi) : "Engineering Baliospermum montanum Hydroxynitrile lyase for Potential Synthetic and Industrial Applications" Funding Agency : Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB) -New Delhi, India, Sanctioned amount : 25 Lakhs ; Duration:3 years (2013 -  2016).
    
  • (PI: Dr. Sudeshna Mukherjee Chowdhury) “A mechanistic analysis of the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in induction of epithelial to mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma”, Funding agency: DST FAST Track (Young Scientist), Sanctioned amount: 17 Lakhs; Duration: 3 years (2013-16).
    
  • (PI: Dr. Monalisa Mishra) “Role of conserved oligomeric golgi complex (COG7) gene in the morophogenesis of hearing organ of Drosophila”, Funding Agency: Department of Science and Technology, India. Sanctioned amount: 23.75 lakhs, Duration: 3 years.
    
  • (PI: Dr. Monalisa Mishra) “Role of PKD in the eye development of Drosophila”, Funding Agency: UGC, New Delhi; Sanctioned amount: 6 lakhs; Duration: 2 years.
    
  • (PI: Dr. Praphulla C Shukla): "Identification of microRNAs Affecting LCAT and apoB-100 during Inflammatory Stress", Funding Agency: UGC, New Delhi; Sanctioned amount: 6 Lakhs; Duration: 2 years.
    
  • (PI: Dr. Shilpi Garg): "Analysis of Genetic diversity of malaria parasite using genetic and microsatellite markers from Bikaner, India". Funding agency:  Research Initiation Grant, BITS Pilani, Sanctioned amount: 2 lakhs; Duration: 2 years (2012-2014).
    
  • (PI: Dr. Prameela Jha): “Endophytic bacteria mediated phytoremediation of organic pollutants”. Funding Agency: Department of Science and technology, India. Sanctioned amount: 25.10 lakhs; Duration: 3 years (2012-2015).
    
  • (PI: Dr. P.R. Deepa) “To Investigate the Effect of Fatty Acid Synthase (FASN) siRNA in a FASN expressing cancer cell line”. Funded by: ICMR, New Delhi; Sanctioned Amount: ~24 Lakhs; Duration: 3 years (2011-2014).
    
  • (PI: Dr. P.R. Deepa) “Identification of potential molecular inhibitors of all catalytic domains of Fattyacid synthase (FASN) at the enzyme activity and gene expression level”; Funded By: Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India; Sanctioned Amount: Rs. 33.67 lakhs; Duration: 3 years (2012 –2015).
    
  • (Co-PI: Dr. P.R. Deepa) “Cardiovascular Disease in human population: Mathematical modeling and analysis of its incidence, risk factors, and preventive strategies”; Funded by: UGC, New Delhi; Sanctioned Amount: 8.44 Lakhs; Duration: 3 Years (2011- 2014).
    
  • (PI: Dr. Sandhya Mehrotra; Co-PI: Dr. Rajesh Mehrotra) " Designing, synthesis and validation of a dehydration stress responsive promoter in plants". Funded by: UGC, New Delhi; Sanctioned Amount: 12.88 Lakhs; Duration: 3 years (2014-17).
    
  • (Co-PI: Dr. S K Verma) "Bioleaching of copper from low grade ore at Hindustan Copper Limited, HCL Khetri". Funded by: Ministry of Mines; Sanctioned Amount: 30.38 Lakhs; Duration: 3 years (2014-17).
    
  • (PI: Dr. Vishal Saxena): "Characterization of Isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway enzymes from Plasmodium vivax". Funding Agency: UGC Major Research Project, UGC New Delhi; Sanctioned Amount: 8 Lakhs; Duration: 3 years (2013-2016).
    
  • (PI: Dr. Shachi Singh) "Enhancing phytochemical production by the use of elicitors". Funding Agency: Department of Science and Technology (DST)-Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Govt. of India, New Delhi; Sanctioned Amount (21.8 Lakh); Duration: 3 years (2013-2016)
    
  • (PI: Dr. S K Verma) " Bio-Diesel production from microalgae” Duration: 3 years; Sanctioned Amount: 19.57 Lakhs, Funding Agency: CSIR, New Delhi.
  • (PI: Dr. S K Verma) "Characterization and Pharmacological evaluation of bioactive compounds from cyanobacterial isolates from Shekhawati region of Rajasthan" Duration: 3 years; Sanctioned Amount: 6.26 Lakhs, Funding Agency: UGC, New Delhi.
  • (PI: Dr. S K Verma) "Development of Bacterial Biosensor for antibiotic detection" Duration: 3 years; Sanctioned Amount: 4.35 Lakhs, Funding Agency: UGC, New Delhi.
  • (PI: Dr. S K Verma) "Development of recombinant DNA based Biosensor device for detection of arsenic in water samples” Duration: 2 years; Sanctioned Amount: 33.8 Lakhs Funding Agency: DST, New Delhi.
  • (PI: Dr. AK Das) "Cloning and characterization of the regions of the apicoplast genome from P.vivax". Duration: 3 years; Sanctioned Amount: 9.95 Lakhs, Funding Agency: UGC, New Delhi.
  • (PI: Dr. AK Das) "Development of comprehensive diagnostic system for P.falciparum, P.vivax and P.malariae" Duration: 3 years; Sanctioned Amount: 8 Lakhs, Funding Agency: CSIR, New Delhi.
  • (PI: Dr. AK Das) "Prokaryotic vector design using cryptic plasmid from Leuconostoc, Lactobacillus and Cyanobacterial sp."; Sanctioned Amount: 12 Lakhs, Funding Agency: Dabur Research Foundation; (funding ceased after re-organization of DRF into a CRO).
  • (PI: Dr. AK Das) "A Systems Biology Approach Towards Understanding Severe Malaria with Special Reference to the Transcriptome and Proteome of the Parasite and the Host" Duration: 3 years; Sanctioned amount: 18.8 Lakhs; Funding Agency: DBT, New Delhi.
  • (Dr. Uma S. Dubey, Co-PI; PI: S. Kapur) “Functional Mutations in the Opiod Receptors and their impact on immune cell function” Duration: 4 years; Sanctioned amount: 55.76 Lakhs; Funding Agency: Indian Council for Medical Research, New Delhi.
  • (PI: Dr. S Chowdhury) "In-silico Characterization of Non-native Structural ensembles of Small Proteins and peptides and its implications on Protein folding and Misfolding process. Duration: 3 years; Sanctioned amount: 7.68 Lakhs; Funding Agency: DST, New Delhi.
  • (PI: Dr. B Vani) "Signaling Mechanism and nitrate assimilation in the Cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis" Duration: 3 years; Sanctioned amount: 7.62 Lakhs; Funding Agency: DST, New Delhi.
  • (PI: Dr. Lalita Gupta)  “Characterization of immune signaling pathway in Anopheles mosquitoes for arresting Plasmodium development” Duration: 2 Years, Sanctioned Amount: 10 Lakhs; Funding Agency: Aditya Birla Groups.
  • (PI: Dr. Rajesh Mehrotra, Co-PIs: Jitendra Panwar, Sandhya Mehrotra) “Natural and Engineered Lipases for Biodiesel Production” Duration: 2 Years; Sanctioned Amount: 10 Lakhs; Funding Agency: Aditya Birla Group (ABG), Mumbai.
  • (PI: Dr. Rajesh Mehrotra) “Cloning and characterization of protein phosphatase2C (PP2C) like promoter from Arabidopsis thaliana”; Duration: 3 Years; Sanctioned Amount: 12.57 Lakhs; Funding Agency: DST, New Delhi.
  • (PI: Dr. Prabhat Nath Jha): Molecular Characterization of diazotrophic plant growth-promoting endophytic bacteria isolated from arid desert of Rajasthan. Sanctioned Amount: 14.51 Lakhs, Funding Agency: DST, New Delhi.
  • (PI: Dr. Vishal Saxena): "Cloning and Characterization of the major regions of the plastid DNA from Plasmodium vivax". Duration: 3 years; Funding Agency: DST- Young Scientist, New Delhi.