Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India
स्वास्थ्य अनुसंधान विभाग, स्वास्थ्य और परिवार कल्याण मंत्रालय, भारत सरकार
Dr. Mamta Chawla-Sarkar joined as Scientist C in Division. of Virology, NICED, Kolkata in January 2006. Dr Chawla Sarkar gained her Master's in Zoology in 1992 from Calcutta University and acquired the degree of Ph.D from Bose Institute-Jadavpur University, Kolkata in 1999. She did her Post-doctoral research work as Research Associate for six years in the Center for drug discovery & development, Taussig Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland. The research project was on analysis of the genes involved in antitumor effects of Interferons and the mechanisms underlying IFN resistance in tumors of different histopathologies. In addition she was also involved in project on role of heme insertion in dimerization and activity of inducible nitric oxide synthetase and study the effect of heme binding inhibitors in modulating NOS activity in various pathological disorders. After joining Division of Virology at NICED, Dr Chawla-Sarkar has been involved in studying two viruses namely Influenza virus and Rotavirus. Her research focus involves strain surveillance, Host-virus interaction and identifying cellular proteins involved in viral pathogenesis for developing potential antiviral targets. As a scientist -in-charge for Influenza surveillance in NICED, Dr Chawla-Sarkar was responsible for providing laboratory support for states in Eastern India during A/H1N1 pandemic in 2009. In 2010, she was promoted to Scientist D (Assistant Director). In 2013, she was elected Fellow of the National academy of science in India (NASI). She was honored with "National Women Bioscientist Award" by Department of Biotechnology in 2013. She is currently working on four projects:
Dr. Chawla-Sarkar has trained number of students and project staff in various aspects of virus research. Six students have completed their Ph.D. program under her guidance and are now doing post doctoral training in USA and Europe. Currently six students are enrolled for Ph.D. under her guidance. She is the author of more than 65 research papers in the peer-reviewed international journals and two Book chapters in the area of Molecular biotechnology, Immunology, Biological Chemistry and Virology.
Name | Dr. Mamta Chawla Sarkar |
---|---|
Designation | Scientist F |
Date of joining ICMR | 09th January 2006 |
Date of joining present post: | 1st September 2014 |
Discipline: | Virology, Molecular Biology |
Division | Virology |
Specialization | Virology, Molecular Biology |
Email : | chawlasarkar.m@icmr.gov.in ; chawlam70@gmail.com |
Academic Qualification | M.Sc., Ph.D., FNASc |
Graduation: | BSc. Zoology (Hons), Calcutta University |
Post Graduation : | MSc. Zoology, Calcutta University |
Doctoral | Microbiology/Life Sciences, Jadavpur University |
Dr. Mamta Chawla-Sarkar, Scientist E, Division of Virology, NICED-ICMR, Kolkata has more than 15 years of research experience in biomedical research. She worked on understanding the role of IFN as anti-cancer therapeutics and mechanisms which underly IFN resistance in subset of patients. In addition, a number of compounds were analyzed as anti-cancer therapeutics by her during her post-doctoral tenure in the Center for drug discovery & development, Taussig Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland (1999-2004). Since 2006, after joining ICMR-NICED, Dr. Chawla-Sarkar has been involved in studying both basic and public health aspects of Rotavirus (Enteric) and Influenza A virus (Respiratory), both of which cause significant morbidity worldwide. Her research focus involves strain surveillance, host-virus interaction and identifying cellular proteins involved in viral pathogenesis for developing potential antiviral targets. She was the coordinating scientist for ICMR's National Rotavirus Surveillance Network and Influenza Surveillance for Eastern India. Dr. Chawla-Sarkar's lab was responsible for providing laboratory support in West Bengal during A/H1N1 outbreaks in 2009, 2015 and 2017.
An estimated 120,000-215,000 deaths annually among children <5y worldwide are attributable to rotavirus (RV) each year, of which 22% occur in India. There has been substantial information on epidemiology, vaccine efficacy, genotypes of rotavirus, information about the molecular mechanism by which the virus subvert their hosts’ cellular immune response or the involvement of host proteins during infection is scanty. Thus the research interest of our lab involves strain surveillance, host-virus interaction and identifying cellular proteins involved in viral pathogenesis for developing potential antiviral targets. Studies on Rotavirus infection using microarray and proteomics techniques have led for first time to the identification of a number of cellular genes which positively aid virus replication. Inhibiting these cellular genes, results in 2-4 log reduction in viral titers, suggesting that these can be potential drug targets. In addition, to understand rotavirus pathogenesis, the NICED-virology lab is also working towards understanding the role of virus encoded proteins in modulating host innate immune responses during different stages of virus replication.