Research Highlights

The DBT Builder - Interdisciplinary Life Science Programme focuses on epigenetics and genome editing, with several projects addressing critical health issues:

1. Epigenetics in Diabetic Nephropathy

• Project Title: : Understanding the role of epigenetic mechanisms in the development of diabetic nephropathy
• Investigators: Prof. Syamantak Majumder, Prof. Anil B. Gaikwad, Prof. Rajeev Taliyan, Prof. Rajdeep Chowdhury.
• Focuses on histone post-translational modifications and endothelial cell responses to high glucose levels.

2. Epigenetics in Type 2 Diabetes-Related Neurological Disorders

• Project Title: : Exploring the role of epigenetics in Type 2 Diabetes mellitus associated neurological disorders
• Investigators: Prof. Rajeev Taliyan.
• Studies the role of HDAC, HMT, and SIRTs in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and stroke, targeting epigenetic regulation in glucose and fatty acid metabolism.

3. Tumor Cell Survival and Drug Resistance

• Project Title: : Understanding epigenetic alterations facilitating survival of tumor cells
• Investigators: Prof. Rajdeep Chowdhury.
• Aims to identify epigenetically regulated genomic regions in colorectal cancer cells under drug stress using ChIP and RNA-seq

4. Histone Methyltransferase Inhibitors for Malaria

• Project Title: : Design and synthesis of small molecules targeting P. falciparum histone methyltransferases (PfHKMTs)
• Investigators:Prof. Shilpi Garg, Prof. Sandeep Sundriyal, Prof. S. Murugesan, Prof. Vishal Saxena, Prof. Ashis K. Das
• Focuses on designing inhibitors of PfHKMTs for malaria treatment, based on the DMAQ scaffold.

5. Epigenetic Modulators in Diabetic Nephropathy

• Project Title: : Design and synthesis of small molecules targeting SET7
• Investigators:Prof. Atish T Paul, Prof. Hemant R Jadhav
• Focuses on designing histone methyltransferase inhibitors for treating diabetic nephropathy.

6. CRISPR/Cas-based Genome Editing for Diabetic Nephropathy

• Project Title: : Design and delivery of CRISPR/Cas Ribonucleoproteins using non-viral nanocarriers for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy
• Investigators: Prof. Deepak Chitkara
• Targets epigenetic alterations in diabetic nephropathy through genome editing tools.

7. Nanocarriers for miRNA-Based Therapy in Diabetic Nephropathy

• Project Title: : Development and evaluation of nano-systems for targeted delivery of mi-RNA-based epigenetic modulators
• Investigators:Prof. Anupama Mittal
• Focuses on delivering miRNA-29b via polymeric carriers to treat diabetic nephropathy.

8. Nanocarriers for Epigenetic Modulator Drugs

• Project Title: : Development and evaluation of nano-systems for targeted delivery of epigenetic modulator drugs
• Investigators: Prof. Aniruddha Roy
• Develops targeted nano-systems for delivering epigenetic drugs to manage diabetic nephropathy.

The program also conducts workshops and symposia on the role of epigenetics in health.

Patents and Research Publications:

Patent :

Anupama Mittal, and group. Lipopolymeric System for Delivery of miRNA and method of preparation thereof. Indian patent application #202311073652 (Provisional Specifications) filed on October 30, 2023

Publications :

• Dwivedi S, Chavan A, Paul AT. SET7, a lysine-specific methyl transferase: An intriguing epigenetic target to combat diabetic nephropathy. Drug Discov Today. 2023: 28(10):103754. (Impact factor: 7.4).
• Published: Akhouri V, Majumder S, Gaikwad AB. Targeting DNA methylation in diabetic kidney disease: A new perspective. Life Sci. 2023;335:122256. (Impact factor: 6.1).
• Akhouri V, Majumder S, Gaikwad AB. The emerging insight into E3 ligases as the potential therapeutic target for diabetic kidney disease. Life Sciences. 2023 May 15;321:121643. (Impact factor: 6.1).