Our Team
Dr. Bikul Das is a distinguished oncologist and stem cell researcher renowned for his pioneering work in stem cell altruism. After completing his medical training and practicing in India, Bhutan and Canada, he went on to earn a PhD in Oncology from the prestigious Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto in 2007.
Dr. Das's groundbreaking research focuses on the concept of altruism at the cellular level. In 2012, while working at Stanford University, he made a significant discovery: the identification of altruistic behavior in human embryonic stem cells. This research challenged existing dogma in evolutionary theory and opened new avenues for understanding diseases like cancer.
Driven by this discovery, he has since published impactful research, including the role of stem cell altruism in Mycobacterium tuberculosis dormancy, which has been validated by laboratories worldwide. His research has been widely cited, solidifying his position as a leading figure in stem cell altruism research.
Lekhika Pathak’s research focuses on the role of stem cell niche defense in Tuberculosis (TB) and Cancer dormancy to relapse. Her work has been presented in Boston at the 37th Annual Conference of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer. Her article “Coronavirus Activates an Altruistic Stem Cell - Mediated Defense Mechanism that Reactivates Dormant Tuberculosis” has been selected by Elsevier for press-release due to its significant impact in Covid19.
At KaviKrishna she has played an integral role in the restructuring of our Laboratory and building of a growth oriented work environment. She serves as on-site mentor for M.Sc. and PhD students, and has designed KaviKrishna’s research training program, as well as our international exchange student program. Additionally, she initiated the reorganization of KaviKrishna’s Telemedicine Care in 2018, and spearheaded the establishment of KaviKrishna’s Living Muga Museum (KKM) in 2019.
Lekhika’s approach is one deeply grounded in care for our community and uplifting of everyone willing to learn. She has been instrumental in our community based participatory research (CBPR) in the Sualkuchi-Hajo cultural complex, weaving together her experience with traditional scientific methods as well as ethno-phenomenological approaches and philosophy. Through this, she serves as a guide for our IKS and Medical Humanities PhD and MSc students.
Shirsajit is a promising researcher with four years of research experience focusing on stem cell biology, cancer biology, and infectious diseases. Having graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering in Biotechnology from Amity University, India, he brings a strong foundation in engineering principles to his biological pursuits.
He has actively disseminated his findings by presenting at national and international conferences, including the prestigious American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting. His passion for research is further evidenced by his strong performance in the national graduate entrance exam for Biotechnology, where he secured an impressive All India Rank.
Currently, he is channeling his expertise into a cutting-edge project that aims to develop an infectious disease control program utilizing digital health applications. This project highlights his innovative approach to tackling complex global health challenges.
Assists the research scholars in executing their experiments and also looks after the sterility maintenance of the lab
His PhD research is focused on investigating the role of oral microbiome in cancer stemness.
He is registered in Gauhati University.
Currently working on project titled "Identification of Evolution of Multi-Drug Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-Mtb) Strain in Sputum and Mesenchymal Stem Cells of TB Subjects to Target the MDR-Mtb Strain Intracellular."
Research Interest: Host-pathogen interaction, Computer aided drug discovery, Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS).
Working in targeting anti-angiogenesis pathways associated with tumor stemness defense.
Research Interest: Angiogenesis, Cancer stem cell niche, Molecular signaling pathways.
Understanding tumor stemness defense mechanism of cancer stem cells and its significance in therapy resistance.
Research Interest: Cancer stem cells, Stem cell niche, Cancer Systems Biology.
