Human Metabolomics

Our lab leverages untargeted metabolomics to investigate human health and disease, with a focus on the Indian population. A major thrust of our work is the discovery of novel metabolite biomarkers that can enable patient stratification and risk prediction for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its associated kidney and cardiovascular complications. Using LC-MS and GC-MS platforms, we analyze clinical samples to uncover metabolite signatures that reflect disease severity and progression. We have identified specific metabolites whose levels are significantly altered with the onset and progression of diabetic nephropathy.

In parallel, we also explore metabolic adaptations to endurance exercise, including the changes in energy metabolism associated with marathon running and recovery. Our lab also develops robust LC-MS and GC-MS methods for quantitative analysis of diverse samples including whole blood, plasma, serum, urine, and dried blood spots. This is complemented by an AI-based platform for end-to-end metabolomics data analysis developed by our home-grown startup Clarity Bio Systems. These research efforts collectively support our goal of advancing precision medicine through early detection, mechanistic understanding, and population-specific insights informed by deep metabolic profiling.

Engineering cyanobacteria for sustainable biomanufacturing

Cyanobacteria are attractive platforms for photosynthetic biomanufacturing of fuels and chemicals from CO₂. Our work centers on fast-growing indigenous strains of Synechococcus elongatus that we have characterized using comprehensive multi-omics approaches and metabolic flux analysis. Further, we developed strain-specific synthetic biology toolboxes for efficient genetic manipulation, enabling precise metabolic rewiring. We have  engineered these cyanobacteria and optimized cultivation conditions to produce a range of value-added products including succinate, ethylene, mannitol, 2,3-butanediol, ethanol, and alkanes with high shake flask yields. These cyanobacterial cell factories can be scaled up to drive sustainable carbon capture and renewable biomanufacturing.

Bioprocess technology

Our research integrates metabolomics and systems biology with bioprocess technology to optimize recombinant protein production in E. coli fed-batch processes on complex media. By integrating spent media analysis with dynamic flux balance analysis, we identify nutrient limitations and metabolic bottlenecks that arise during the process. These metabolic insights guide the rational design of optimal feeding strategies, including targeted amino acid supplementation, and process modifications, leading to significant improvement in protein titer. Our integrated approach accelerates bioprocess optimization while requiring far fewer experimental trials compared to DoE approaches.

In earlier work, we have developed high cell density fermentation protocols that enable efficient production of biocatalysis-relevant enzymes such as nitrilases and carbonyl reductases, as well as therapeutic proteins in E. coli.