SAURABH LOHARCH, PhD

I earned my Bachelor's in Life Sciences from the University of Delhi in 2009, followed by a Master's in Biotechnology from Madurai Kamaraj University in 2012. That same year, I began my Ph.D. at CSIR-IMTECH, Chandigarh, under the guidance of Dr. Raman Parkesh. My research focused on developing specific inhibitors of Sirtuins, an epigenetic protein family, using a multidisciplinary approach that integrated chemoinformatics, medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, and structural biology. In 2018, I transitioned into industry as a Junior Scientist, contributing to a startup project aimed at developing drugs against multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) using venom-derived compounds. After earning my Ph.D. in 2019, I moved to Wrocław, Poland, for a postdoctoral position in Prof. Lukasz Berlicki’s lab. My work centered on identifying inhibitors targeting Helicobacter pylori and Sporosarcina pasteurii ureases and investigating their mechanisms of action using structural biology techniques such as X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). In 2022, I continued my postdoctoral research in Valencia, Spain, in Dr. Jose Gallego’s lab, where I expanded my research interest to RNA-protein interactions. My research involved developing inhibitors targeting the RRE-Rev interaction in HIV and studying MTIP-Myosin A interactions in Plasmodium falciparum.

My primary research interests involve understanding the structure and function of proteins and RNAs, and their complexes to uncover molecular mechanisms and explore their therapeutic potential. Currently, I am investigating the biogenesis and functional mechanisms of polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) and its interacting partners. This knowledge could aid in designing new drug molecules for mitochondrial disorders caused by hPNPase dysfunction. Through interdisciplinary collaborations, I strive to contribute to scientific advancements with translational applications in healthcare and biotechnology.