NICED : Scientists

Professional Experience

Key person of the Regional Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) with responsibility for management and supervision of its daily activities. Starting with diagnosis of only four viruses at the time of joining, the laboratory currently boasts of serological and molecular diagnostic capability of thirty viruses, their subtypes and other agents of public health importance. Responsible for the laboratory to receive NABL accreditation on June 2018. Involved in surveillance on Zika, Dengue, Influenza, Scrub Typhus and Leptospirosis. Organised and acted as the resource person for different training workshops during this period. Acted as the nodal person in preparing the bacteriology division achieve WHO pre-qualification of diagnostics for testing of Vibrio cholerae antigens in June 2019. Has been in the forefront of the fight against COVID-19 pandemic since the beginning coordinating its diagnostics, training, quality control, kit validation, biorepository, and multicentre collaborative research activities.

Research Interests

Research interest revolves round the concept of One Health and looking into the interplay of its various components - focussing primarily on emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance and other health threats. Aspires to finding solutions to common health problems through translational research.

Fellowship or Award Received

1. First Prize in Scientific Paper titled : 'A Study on Microbial Profile of Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in HIV Seropositive Cases' at 10th Annual Conference, Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists (Odisha Chapter), conducted by AIIMS, Bhubaneshwar (2016)
2. Pan Memorial Award for Anatomy Dissection, Medical College, Kolkata (2006)
3. Basak Memorial Award for Anatomy Dissection, Medical College, Kolkata (2006)
4. National Talent Search Examination Scholar, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), New Delhi (2003)
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Memberships

1. Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists (IAMM) - Life Member
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Projects

1. Serological Assessment for COVID-19 among Healthcare workers and Vaccine Preparedness (SACH-VP) - JHU
2. An event-driven, phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study to evaluate the efficacy, safety, immunogenicity and lot-to-lot consistency of BBV152, a whole-virion inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in adults ≥ 18 years of age - BBIL/ICMR
3. Establishment of a network of ICMR-COVID-19 biorepositories in India - ICMR
4. Impact of improved diagnostic tools, practices, training and communication on acute fever case management and antibiotic prescriptions for children and adolescents presenting at outpatient facilities in the Community Clinics of ICMR-NICED, India - FIND
5. Congenital Rubella Syndrome Surveillance in India - UNDP
6. Establishment of a Network of Laboratories for Managing Epidemics and Natural Calamities (VRDL) - DHR/ICMR
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