Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator
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Dr. Ashok Kumar, Ph.D.
Poonam and Prabhu Goel Chair ProfessorDirector, IIT Kanpur-La Trobe University Research AcademyProfessor of Bioengineering, Dept. of Biological Sciences & BioengineeringCoordinator, Centre of Excellence for Materials in MedicineGangwal School of Medical Sciences and TechnologyAssociated FacultyCentre for NanoscienceCentre for Environmental Science & EngineeringIndian Institute of Technology KanpurKanpur-208016, UP, INDIA
E-mail: ashokkum@iitk.ac.inPhone: +91-512-2594051/52URL: https://www.iitk.ac.in/bsbe/ashok-kumarhttps://scholar.google.de/citations?user=eFMI9XQAAAAJ&hl=en
Dr. Ashok Kumar is currently associated with Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur as Endowed Chair Professor of Bioengineering at the Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering. He has received his Ph.D in Biotechnology in 1994 jointly from Institute of genomics and integrative biology, Delhi and Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India His current research interests focus in the areas of stem cell research, regenerative medicine, biomaterials, tissue engineering, bioprocess engineering, nanobiotechnology, drug delivery and environmental biotechnology. He has published around 200 peer reviewed research papers in International Journals, edited five books and has several patents in his area of research. Prof. Kumar has been recognized with many awards and honours like, TATA Innovation fellowship, Samsung research award and other national and international fellowships. To mention further, Prof. Kumar has served as associate editor of Nanoscale Research Letters and is on the editorial board of several other Biological and Biotechnological Journals. He is involved in expert committees for Biomaterials and Tissue engineering research and also serves as a committee member of Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India.
Some of his major research achievements in the regenerative medicine have been designing of neo-cartilage and bioartificial liver support bioreactor using cryogel matrices which are at the pre-clinical stages. He has developed functional bone substitutes which are in clinical trials for pediatric cranioplasty. In the area of bioseparations and bioprocessing, he has developed the technologies and processes like metal affinity precipitation, monolithic chromatographic approaches for macromolecules and cell separations and disposable polymeric bioreactors for therapeutic protein production and has transferred technologies to industries. In the area of environmental biotechnology, his team has suitably designed membrane filtration devices for air and water purification and established integrated approach for community water filtration for drinking water. His lab is actively involved in carrying out industry collaboration biomedical research through national programmes like IMPRINT and UAY. To speak about his contribution in national and international research collaborations, Dr. Kumar has been actively involved in research collaborations within IITK and with other IITs, national labs and universities in the country. He carries out active collaborations with Sweden and Finland in orthopedic clinical and biomedical research through bilateral programmes besides being involved in research co-operations with US, UK, Germany, Korea, Japan and Slovania.
Some of his major research achievements in the regenerative medicine have been designing of neo-cartilage and bioartificial liver support bioreactor using cryogel matrices which are at the pre-clinical stages. He has developed functional bone substitutes which are in clinical trials for pediatric cranioplasty. In the area of bioseparations and bioprocessing, he has developed the technologies and processes like metal affinity precipitation, monolithic chromatographic approaches for macromolecules and cell separations and disposable polymeric bioreactors for therapeutic protein production and has transferred technologies to industries. In the area of environmental biotechnology, his team has suitably designed membrane filtration devices for air and water purification and established integrated approach for community water filtration for drinking water. His lab is actively involved in carrying out industry collaboration biomedical research through national programmes like IMPRINT and UAY. To speak about his contribution in national and international research collaborations, Dr. Kumar has been actively involved in research collaborations within IITK and with other IITs, national labs and universities in the country. He carries out active collaborations with Sweden and Finland in orthopedic clinical and biomedical research through bilateral programmes besides being involved in research co-operations with US, UK, Germany, Korea, Japan and Slovania.
Professional Positions
Feb 2024 – present Director IIT Kanpur- La Trobe University Research Academy , Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, INDIA
Mar 2012 – present Professor Department of Biological Sciences & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, INDIA
Aug 2004 – Feb 2012 Associate Professor Department of Biological Sciences & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, INDIA
Jan 1997 – July 2004 Post doctoral, Lecturer and Sr. Scientist Department of Biotechnology, Lund University, SWEDEN
Sept 1999 – Aug 2001 Postdoctoral Fellow Department of Applied Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nagoya University, JAPAN
Mar 1996 – Dec 1996 Assistant Professor Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, INDIA
Jul 1993– Feb 1996 Sr. Scientific Officer Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, INDIA
Awards/Recognition
2024 Distinguished Biomaterial Scientist Award by Society of Biomaterials and Artificial Organs, India2024 Elected Fellow of the International Academy of Medical and Biomedical Engineering (IAMBE)2024 Elected Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineers (FNAE)2024 Elected Fellow of National Academy of Medical Sciences (FAMS)2024 Honorary member, Romanian Society for Biomaterials2024 President Society of Biomaterials and Artificial Organs, India2024 Vice President, Asian Federation of Biotechnology (AFOB), India2024 Honorary Doctorate in Technology D.Sc. (Tech); Aalto University, Finland2023 Dr. Nandagudi Suryanarayana Rao Academic Award by National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) 2023 Elected Fellow of Biomaterial Science and Engineering (FBSE) by International Union of Societies of Biomaterial Science and Engineering 2020 Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Award2019 Fellow of the Society of Biomaterials and Artificial Organs of India (FBAO)2019 Rajeeva and Sangeeta Lahri Chair Professorship2016 Academia of Finland Fellowship2015 Lalit Mohan Kapoor Chair Professorship2013 TATA Innovation Fellowship award by DBT, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt of India2013 Madhav Rao Scindia Memorial award in Science and Technology 2012 Samsung-GRO International research award for health systems research 2012 International Brainpool Fellow, Korea 2008 Executive Board Member for Asian Federation of Biotechnology (AFOB)Research Profile
Process development for the production of therapeutics from mammalian cell culture In this direction our group is focusing on designing supermacroporous cryogel based disposable bioreactors for the cultivation of cells and development of integrated bioprocess for product recovery.
Development of smart polymeric biomaterials Self-assembling biological structures and polymers that can respond to their environment, provide a wide range of interesting applications. We focus on utilizing the reversible solubility of such polymeric materials in developing bioseparation, drug delivery, biosensors, cell sheet engineering and cell culture technologies.
Development of bioartificial liver support using cryogel bioreactor In this direction we have focused in designing a cryogel bioreactor where hepatocytes are immobilized and this provides a bridge for transplantation or regeneration of liver. At present the work is being carried out with animal model systems.
Environmental biotechnology In this direction, my research interests focus on treating industrial effluents, bioremediation of contaminated soils and energy generation from biological wastes. Using supermacroporous material filters, we are emphasizing on air and water cleaning
Development of preparative cell separation technology, tissue engineering and high throughput analysis By designing new superporous hydrogels, my group is focusing on developing affinity based chromatographic separation strategies for cells, scaffolds for tissue engineering and high throughput screening of biomolecules. In tissue engineering, my focus has been on the cartilage, bone, skin and neural tissue engineering.
Technology Transferred (Cryogel filter for leukocyte depletion from blood for safe blood transfusion) The product and process was transferred to Hindustan Latex Ltd, Lifecare for commercialization.
Selected Publications
⚈ Saha, T., Mehrotra, S., Gupta, P., & Kumar, A. (2025). Exosomal miRNA combined with anti-inflammatory hyaluronic acid-based 3D bio-printed hepatic patch promotes metabolic reprogramming in NAFLD-mediated fibrosis. Biomaterials, 318, 123140.⚈ Mairal, A., Mehrotra, S., Kumar, A., Maiwal, R., Marsal, J., & Kumar, A. (2024). Hyaluronic Acid-Conjugated Thermoresponsive Polymer-Based Bioformulation Enhanced Wound Healing and Gut Barrier Repair of a TNBS-Induced Colitis Injury Ex Vivo Model in a Dynamic Perfusion Device. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 16(5), 5382-5400.
⚈ Nikhil, A., Qayoom, I., Das, A., & Kumar, A. (2024). Preventing septic implant failures in osteoporotic hip fractures using antibiotic-loaded functionalized nanocement. Chemical Engineering Journal, 486, 149908.
⚈ Singh, A., Raghav, A., Shiekh, P. A., & Kumar, A. (2021). Transplantation of engineered exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells ameliorate diabetic peripheral neuropathy under electrical stimulation. Bioactive Materials, 6(8), 2231-2249.
⚈ Shiekh, P. A., Singh, A., & Kumar, A. (2020). Exosome laden oxygen releasing antioxidant and antibacterial cryogel wound dressing OxOBand alleviate diabetic and infectious wound healing. Biomaterials, 249, 120020.
⚈ Anamika Singh, Parvaiz A. Shiekh, Mainak Das, Jukka Seppälä, and Ashok Kumar., (2019). Aligned chitosan-gelatin cryogel-filled polyurethane nerve guidance channel for neural tissue engineering: fabrication, characterization, and in vitro evaluation. Biomacromolecules 20 , no 2 : 662–673 .
⚈ Deepak Bushan Raina, Irfan Qayoom, David Larsson, Ming Hao Zheng, Ashok Kumar, Hanna Isaksson, Lars Lidgren, and Magnus Tägil.(2019). Guided tissue engineering for healing of cancellous and cortical bone using a combination of biomaterial based scaffolding and local bone active molecule delivery. Biomaterials 188 (): 38-49.
⚈ Anamika Singh, Sanja Asikainen, Arun Kumar Teotia, Parvaiz Ahmad Shiekh, Eero Huotilainen, Irfan Qayoom, Jouni Partanen, Jukka V. Seppälä, and Ashok Kumar.,(2018). Biomimetic Photocurable 3D Printed Nerve Guidance Channels with Aligned Cryomatrix Lumen for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration. ACS applied materials & interfaces 10 no. 50 :43327–43342 .
⚈ Shiekh, P. A., Singh, A., & Kumar, A. (2018). Engineering Bioinspired Antioxidant Materials Promoting Cardiomyocyte Functionality and Maturation for Tissue Engineering Application. ACS applied materials & interfaces, 10(4), 3260–3273.
⚈ Parvaiz A. Shiekh, Anamika Singh, and Ashok Kumar., (2018). Oxygen-Releasing Antioxidant Cryogel Scaffolds with Sustained Oxygen Delivery for Tissue Engineering Applications.ACS applied materials & interfaces 10, no. 22: 18458-18469.
⚈ Deepak Bushan Raina, Hanna Isaksson, Arun Kumar Teotia, Lars Lidgren, Magnus Tägil, and Ashok Kumar., (2016). Biocomposite macroporous cryogels as potential carrier scaffolds for bone active agents augmenting bone regeneration. Journal of Controlled Release 235 : 365-378.
⚈ Ashok Kumar, and Akshay Srivastava., (2010). Cell separation using cryogel-based affinity chromatography. Nature protocols 5, no.11: 1737.
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