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. She carried out her doctoral work at KaviKrishna Laboratory and defended her PhD thesis from IIT Guwahati under the supervision of Dr. Bikul Das and Dr. Sanjukta Patra.
At KaviKrishna she has played an integral role in the restructuring of our laboratory and building of a growth-oriented work environment. She has designed KaviKrishna's biomedical research training program for BSc. and MSc. students. She worked with Dr. Bikul Das to create and execute the international exchange student program. She serves as an on-site mentor for BSc., M.Sc., and international students. Also, she serves as a Co-guide for the PhD students in the lab.
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 Co-guide for our IKS and Medical Humanities PhD and MSc students.
Partha Jyoti Saikia is a dedicated researcher at KaviKrishna Laboratory, driven by a passion for scientific research. With a postgraduate degree in Biotechnology, he joined the laboratory in 2018 as an intern, and subsequently, as a research scholar in 2019. His primary research focus is on the role of the oral oral microbiota/microbiome in oral cancer. His Ph.D. project delves into the mechanisms by which the oral microbiota can modulate the tumor microenvironment, especially targeting cancer stem cells to induce an aggressive phenotype.
Partha's contributions extend to the laboratory's TB project, where he has been involved in sample collection, downstream experiments, and administrative tasks. He has also been instrumental in training the next generation of researchers, conducting sessions and practical demonstrations for multiple batches of research interns. He has also been a collaborative member of the laboratory, actively assisting fellow Ph.D. students and researchers with their experiments and their projects.
Beyond his benchwork, Partha has been actively involved in clinical research and patient care. He has contributed to KaviKrishna Telemedicine Care, providing essential care to cancer patients and gaining invaluable insights into the complexities of palliative care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he played a pivotal role in KTC-led projects, participating in patient care and diagnostics. This involved home visits to collect samples from COVID-19 patients and patients in ICU care in the hospitals of Sualkuchi and Hajo.
Partha's dedication to research, patient care, and mentorship, coupled with his strong technical skills and collaborative spirit, makes him a valuable asset to the KaviKrishna Laboratory community. His work has the potential to significantly impact the understanding and treatment of oral cancer and other related diseases.
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
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.
