As the group leader of the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Tuberculosis Research at BITS Pilani Hyderabad, I aim to become a global leader in tuberculosis research, with a specific focus on "vaccines and therapeutics for women's reproductive health and paediatric tuberculosis." This neglected area carries immense national and international significance. With 20 years of experience in tuberculosis research, expertise in vaccine and therapeutics development & testing, and extensive training in biosafety and biosecurity, I am confident in achieving my vision.
I am particularly excited about our patented dual-use Bladder cancer-cum-TB vaccine, which was developed by me and my colleagues at Johns Hopkins University in the laboratory of Prof. William R Bishai. It has proven to be highly effective against TB and bladder cancer in pre-clinical studies and is now tech transferred for first phase of further clinical testing. We are also eager about novel anti-TB drugs that we recently discovered and patented by our lab at BITS Hyderabad. Combined with my ongoing translational research, I anticipate to expand my research arena and entrepreneurial skills, contributing to the global effort to end tuberculosis.
My research encompasses fascinating yet challenging areas such as
1. Exploring the role of Flavins in the host-pathogen interaction during M. tuberculosis infection. (DBT-RLS)
2. We are focusing currently on identifying new drug targets against M. tuberculosis along with discovering their mechanism of action through in silico, in vitro (biochemical, microbiological, biophysical, molecular and immunological) approaches, and to test these potent anti-TB drugs in vivo animal models of TB. (DBT-RLS, CHDR Intramural grant, Lady Tata Memorial Fellowship)
3. We are also dedicated to designing and developing clinical trial-ready, antibiotic marker-free, CRISPR-engineered BCG-based recombinant vaccines that minimize regulatory hurdles. These vaccines can serve as delivery vehicles for small molecule-based adjuvants like c-di-AMP, c-di-GMP, and MAIT cell agonists. (DBT RLS, DBT-Indo-USA)
4. Furthermore, my lab is committed to studying the impact of tuberculosis on maternal and fetal health, reproductive tract disorders, and infertility. To accomplish this, we are developing novel in vitro and in vivo animal models that serve as platforms for screening potent anti-TB drugs, host-directed therapies, and targeted treatments for women with TB. (CHDR Intramural grant)
5. We have also established rapid molecular methods to detect genital or wound infections by pathogens of concern including TB & ESKAPE. (DRDO, ICMR Fellowship)- To be patented
Through these research endeavors, we aim to make significant contributions to tuberculosis research and address the specific needs of vulnerable populations.