शिक्षा

Dr. Deepshi Thakral, PhD, Scientist II

Education and training

After completing B.Sc. (H) and M.Sc. in Biochemistry from the University of Delhi in 1997 and 1999, respectively, I pursued PhD in Biomedical Research from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. I was awarded the PhD degree in 2004 and went on to pursue postdoctoral training in Molecular Immunology at the Yale University School of Medicine, USA, one of the premier institutes for cutting-edge research in the field of Immunology (2005-2010). In 2011, I was appointed as a senior research associate (CSIR pool scheme) at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi in the dept. of Pathology and continued as senior research officer in the dept. of transplant Immunology and Immunogenetics till mid-2017.

Research Experience

I have been actively involved in Biomedical research for more than two decades with expertise in molecular biology, immunology, and oncology. As a molecular immunologist, my primary research focus has been in understanding the human T cell biology in chronic diseases and developing immunotherapy modalities for cancer and infectious diseases. After my appointment as senior scientist in the Dept. of Onco-Haematopathology in June 2017, I have been involved in establishing both qualitative and quantitative molecular diagnostic and prognostic assays for hematologic malignancies. My ongoing research is focused on understanding the role of tumor microenvironment with special focus on stem cells and immune status in influencing the phenotypic and functional heterogeneity in haematological malignancies. We are using single cell transcriptomics to obtain a better understanding of Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) pathogenesis and chemo-resistance, especially the role of leukemic stem cells that contribute to high rate of relapse in AML. In parallel, another research focus is on the potential use of minimally invasive plasma-derived circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a biomarker for real-time disease monitoring in AML. This may facilitate better prognostic risk stratification, options for targeted therapy, MRD assessment and relapse prediction in AML. Moreover, the genotype guided risk classification of AML with concurrent evaluation of immune phenotype in AML patients using cell free nucleic acids (ctDNA and circulating cell free RNA) is being investigated as a novel approach for disease monitoring that may facilitate the design of preclinical and early clinical studies of immunotherapeutic combinations for precision medicine in AML.

Achievements

I was awarded the third prize for best oral presentation at the 6^th annual congress of immuno-oncology organised by the Immuno-oncology society of India (I-OSICON2025, Bhubaneswar, Orissa). I won the best poster award at the 9th annual conference of Molecular Pathologist Association of India, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 2022 and best oral presenter award at the 7th annual conference Molecular Pathologist Association of India at ACTREC, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 2019. I was selected as Senior research associate under the CSIR Pool Scientist Scheme (2010-2013). During my postdoctoral training, I had developed human CD8bb cell lines including the 2C murine hybridoma and the human H9 cell line co-expressing GFP and CD8bb homodimers that were licensed for generation of anti-Human CD8beta monoclonal antibody; the product is commercially sold by eBioscience (Clone: SIDI8BEE). This antibody detects the CD8 beta chain in both CD8αβ heterodimers and CD8ββ homodimers and has applications in flow cytometry, western blot, immunoprecipitation, and IHC. I was awarded the Trudeau Postdoctoral Fellowship from Yale University in 2006, and the Howard Hughes Undergraduate Science Education program fellowship for teaching (2006-2007). I had qualified National Eligibility Test from C.S.I.R. in 1999 and was recipient of several scholarships during B.Sc. and M.Sc. for obtaining top ranks.

Publications

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=thakral+deepshi&sort=date

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=D-IRKxAAAAAJ

Dr. Pranay Tanwar, MBBS, MD, MNAMS, FIMSA 

Dr. Pranay Tanwar is a physician-scientist and academic pathologist with over 20 years of experience in hematopathology, molecular pathology, cancer genomics, flow cytometry, translational oncology, and laboratory medicine. 

Research & Academic Interests: Dr. Tanwar's research program focuses on integrating molecular and genomic approaches into cancer diagnosis, risk stratification, early detection, and therapeutic monitoring. His major areas of interest include:

• Acute leukemia and myeloproliferative neoplasms: molecular biomarkers, risk stratification and clinically relevant genomic alterations.

• Cancer genomics: whole-exome sequencing, transcriptomics, epigenomics and bioinformatics-based discovery of diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers.

• Gallbladder cancer: molecular biology, genomic profiling and development of approaches for early detection.

• Breast cancer: genomics, therapeutic resistance and molecular characterization of triple-negative breast cancer.

• HPV-associated malignancies: molecular detection and cancer screening, including oral, head and neck and cervical cancers.

• Liquid biopsy and MRD: development of molecular approaches for disease surveillance and therapeutic monitoring.

   

Academic Contributions: Dr. Tanwar has authored approximately 120 peer reviewed publications, with an H-index of 21 and an i10-index of 55. He has also contributed to research mentorship, postgraduate and doctoral education, professional examinations, faculty recruitment boards, journal peer review, and academic editorial activities.

Honors & Recognitions: DST Young Scientist Fellowship Grant, PI of ICMR Task Force Grant of Breast cand Gall Bladder cancer, AIIMS Research Excellence Awards (2023 and 2024), Fellowship of the International Medical Science Academy, the Berend Houwen Travel Award, international contribution awards from the Korean Society of Haematology, and multiple scientific presentation awards. 

Areas of expertise: Hematopathology | Molecular Pathology | Cancer Genomics | Flow Cytometry | NGS | Liquid Biopsy | Translational Oncology | Cancer Screening

Dr. Anita Chopra, Professor 

MD (AIIMS), DM (AIIMS), MAMS, FIMSA

Department of Onco-Hematopathology Dr. B.R.A. Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital (IRCH) All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi

Profile

Dr. Anita Chopra is Professor in the Department of Onco-Hematopathology at AIIMS, New Delhi. She specializes in hematopathology and laboratory hematology, with expertise in the integrated diagnosis of hematological malignancies using morphology, flow cytometry, molecular diagnostics, and next-generation sequencing. Her research focuses on translational hematology, molecular classification of leukemia, biomarker discovery, measurable residual disease (MRD), CAR-T cell therapy monitoring, and the application of artificial intelligence in hematopathology.

Areas of Expertise

• Hematopathology

• Flow Cytometric Immunophenotyping

• Molecular Diagnostics

• Genomics

• Acute Leukemia and Lymphomas

• Measurable Residual Disease (MRD)

Research Interests

• Molecular genetics of acute leukemia

• Transcriptomics and precision oncology

• Prognostic biomarker discovery

• AI-enabled diagnostic pathology

• Translational cancer research

Publications

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=9gq-FX0AAAAJ&hl=en