Education qualification

1. Ph.D. (Pharmaceutical Sciences) from Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal, Karnataka; 2012. Thesis title: ‘Radioprotection by Coronopus didymus (L.) – a free radical mechanistic and molecular approach.’

2. Master of Pharmacy (Pharmacology) from Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal, Karnataka (Gold Medalist); 2007. Topic of dissertation:  In- house design, fabrication and validation of a rat liver perfusion model to determine hepatic extraction ratio of NCEs.

3. Bachelor of Pharmacy from Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal, Karnataka; 2005

Research Experience (14 years)

Areas of Research: Preclinical research in areas such as antiviral drug discovery and development from herbal and synthetic sources, development of antiviral screening platforms, immunomodulatory mechanisms of virus like particles, radioprotection, cancer, and metabolic disorder.

    1. Principal Investigator

• Translational Research Consortium for Establishing Platform Technologies to Support Prophylactic and Therapeutic Strategies for Dengue – Discovery to Proof-of-Concept (referred as Dengue TRC), funded by DBT-BIRAC, Govt. of India; Project Ref No: BT/NBM/0099/02/18
• Targeting protease activity of Chikungunya virus capsid protein using FRET-based assay- a prototype antiviral high-throughput screening (HTS) platform, funded by Intra Mural Funding, MAHE

     2. Co-Principal Investigator

• Translational Research Consortia on Chikungunya (referred as Chikungunya TRC), funded by DBT-BIRAC, Govt. of India; Project Ref No: BT/NBM/0101/02/18
• Evaluation of ratioNally Designed Influenza vaccines (ENDFLU), funded by DBT, Govt. of India; File No: BT/IN/EU-INF/15/RV/19-20
• Implant and nano-formulation of acyclovir and prodrug of acyclovir using biodegradable polymers to treat herpes simplex virus infections, funded by Manipal MAC ID Seed Grant; Ref No: MAC ID/SGA/2020/59
• Development of Novel and Potential Neuraminidase (NA) Inhibitors against H1N1 Influenza Virus through In Silico and In Vitro Studies, funded by Manipal MAC ID Seed Grant; Ref No: MAC ID/SGA/2021/87

     3. Research Scientist (Feb – Mar 2015) Manipal Institute of Virology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education; Project titled “Anti-Viral Herbal Product Development, Coordination of Anti Rabies In vivo Testing, Safety Studies and Technology Transfer”.

     4. Research Associate (May 2012 – Feb 2015) Manipal Institute of Virology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education; Projects titled “Evaluation and development of antiviral products      from Herbal Source” & “Molecular epidemiology of rotavirus diarrhea in children under five in Southwest India - A hospital and laboratory-based study”.

Teaching Experience (8 years)

2020-to date:    Associate Professor, Manipal Institute of Virology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.

Guided PG students (8) through MSc Clinical Virology dissertation work. Guide for 2 PhD students and co-guide for 2 PhD students.

2015-2020:       Assistant Professor, Manipal Institute of Virology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.

2013-2014:       Research and Teaching Faculty for M.Sc. Clinical Virology in Manipal Institute of Virology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education;

Subjects taught: Antiviral Pharmacotherapy; Advanced Immunology; Research Ethics; Care, breeding and experimentation of laboratory animals; Genetically modified animals; Protocol development.

2007-2008:       Lecturer in Krupanidhi College of Pharmacy, Bangalore. Subjects handled - Pharmacology and Physiology; Placement cell in-charge for undergraduate and postgraduate students; Coordinator in personality development course at the institution

Research Interests

• Antiviral drug discovery and development
• Immunomodulatory mechanisms of potential antiviral molecules and virus like particles
• Virus pathogenesis and host-virus interaction in disease severity
• Antiviral resistance and associated mechanisms
• Radioprotection
• Cancer
• Metabolic disorder