Current Title and Department: Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Undergraduate Degree: Chemical Engineering, Jadavpur University, India
Graduate Degree (if applicable): Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, India
Who do you consider your mentors?
I am indebted to my postdoc mentor Dr. Lachlan Smith (University of Pennsylvania) for introducing me to the field of orthopaedics, especially intervertebral disc and cartilage. His excellent mentorship and support have helped me in gaining a thorough insight about musculoskeletal tissues. Also, the guidance from Dr. Robert Mauck (University of Pennsylvania) has been extremely helpful in troubleshooting the experimental challenges during my postdoctoral research.
What is your specific area of interest in research?
I am interested in applying the fundamental principles of Materials Science and Nanotechnology in developing innovative Biomaterials for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently working on gene therapy for regeneration of degenerated intervertebral disc. In particular, my objective is to develop an mRNA formulation for transfecting nucleus pulposus cells and enhancing matrix deposition within intervertebral disc for an extended period of time.
What has been the biggest challenge for you lately in your research?
As a Chemical Engineer, I did not have any prior experience on in vivo experiments. After joining UPenn, I started learning the basics of animal experiments. With the support from my mentors and colleagues, I am hopeful to overcome the current translational challenges of our technology development process soon.
What projects are you looking forward to?
Apart from gene therapy, I am also looking forward to developing innovative strategies for preconditioning of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The goal is to improve the survival of MSCs and retain their ECM production capabilities upon implantation into degenerated disc.
What changes would you like to see in the future of the orthopedic research community?
With my industrial R&D experience for more than a decade, I can certainly find a substantial gap between scientific outcome (in terms of publication/patent) and technology development within the orthopedic research community. I feel that the community needs to put more focus on addressing the translational challenges associated with the technological advancements being proposed. Also, these details (including the data from failed experiments) should be properly reported and discussed in relevant forums.
What do you like to do outside of your work?
In my leisure time, I like to get engaged in yoga and sports related activities (including cricket, badminton, table tennis). Also, I am passionate about singing and I listen to music regularly in diverse languages.
What is the last book you read?
Some time ago, I read the book entitled “Don’t Lose Your Mind, Lose Your Weight” by Rujuta Diwekar and found it to be really useful in developing a healthy lifestyle without compromising our day-to-day needs. Currently I am going through the book “Molecular Cell Biology” by Lodish et al. and exploring the hidden beauty of biology in a greater extent.
What is the most unusual/unexpected item sitting on your desk right now?
I find a butterfly (magnetic, plastic made) sitting on my desk.
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