The Translational Biology Laboratory

The research interests of the lab are at the interface of computation, cellular and molecular biology.

The lab works in two major domains:

1. Personalized medicine

Looking at the importance of genetic alterations in cancer initiation and progression, we are interested in exploring the redundant cellular networks to find all possible pairs of genes that support the functioning of each other in cancer cells. The functional inactivation of both the genes in such a pair has the potential to impair the cellular needs of the targeted cells thereby pushing them towards apoptosis. Therefore, we aim to work towards the development of cancer targeted therapies designed on the basis of the genetic makeup of each patient.

2. Exploring bioactives from natural resources for therapeutic applications

The use of herbal medicines for therapeutic purposes has a long recorded history. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that 80% of the world’s inhabitants mainly rely on traditional medicines for their healthcare even today. Despite having therapeutic potential, Indian Ayurvedic drugs are not accepted globally because of the unknown composition and mechanism of action of various herbal formulations used. Therefore, a rigorous analysis of Ayurvedic drugs by modern science is required in order to obtain a certified proof of their therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, we are interested in exploring the mechanism of action of bioactive compounds from natural sources as therapeutic agents.