IISER Pune scientists win Innovative Young Biotechnologist Award

PUNE: Two scientists from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune, Akanksha Chaturvedi, assistant Professor in Biology and Krishanpal Karmodiya, a fellow of the Inspire programme of the union Department of Science and Technology (DST), have won the Innovative Young Biotechnologist Award (IYBA) for the year 2014. The award is given by the Union Department of Biotechnology (DBT), to outstanding young scientists for pursuing research in frontier areas of biotechnology.It consists of a grant-in-aid of Rs 50 lakh for carrying out a research project along with fellowship for the awardee, a statement issued by IISER Pune said.
Akanksha Chaturvedi is an immunologist who works on receptor signaling in ‘B’ cells. Her group is trying to understand the molecular mechanisms by which ‘B’ cells integrate signals received from innate and adaptive immune components to tailor the body’s antibody response. She also plans to explore the area of inappropriate ‘B’ cell activation and its role in auto immunity, said the statement.
Krishanpal Karmodiya’s research focuses on epigenetic and transcriptional regulation in the malarial parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. He and his team are working on characterization of novel transcriptional regulators from Plasmodium that may be involved in virulence and pathogenicity of the parasite, added the statement.