About Us
Department of Innate Immunity is credited with discovering and establishing the role of pattern recognition receptors especially the Collectins (lung surfactant protein A, lung surfactant protein D and Mannan Binding Lectin) as immune sentinels guarding the reproductive and respiratory tract. Salient achievements of the department are the following:
- Established efficacy of Human lung surfactant protein D based potential therapy using clinical samples of COVID-19 and independent validation in hamster model and transgenic mouse model of SARS-CoV-2
- Developed a novel culture media formulation for differentiating umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells into endothelial lineage/cells including the potential angiogenic factor derived from the peri-vitelline fluid of the fertilized eggs of the Indian horseshoe crab.
- Identification of serum biomarkers with potential to predict before 14th week of gestation and preventive management of pregnant women at high risk for severe Preeclampsia, a hypertensive disorder of pregnant women.
- Discovered the anti-cancer role of human SP-D, identified its potential receptors on prostate cancer cells and multiple mechanisms and validated its therapeutic potential.
- Established role of collectins in the embryo implantation, placental development and testicular immune-privilege and their clinical correlation with recurrent miscarriage and male infertility.
- Development of a vaginal microbicide for prevention of sexually transmitted infections including HIV and established its efficacy ex vivo and safety in vivo.
- Developed a novel stem-cell therapy by transfecting the immunosuppressive eutopic MSCs with adenoviral vector encoding soluble Flt-1, a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis and inflammation.
- Development and independent validation of novel immunodiagnostic kits, AfuPEPLISA G and E for aspergillosis.
People
| Name | Designation |
| Dr. Susan Thomas | Head and Scientist F |
| Dr. Taruna Madan | Visiting Faculty, Scientist G, ICMR-HQ |
| Mr. Ramesh D Shinde | Laboratory Asistant |
| Dr. Rambhadur Subedi | ICMR-RA |
| Ms Kasturi Ganguly | CSIR-SRF, PhD scholar |
| Ms Aishwarya Rao | ICMR-SRF, PhD scholar |
| Ms Hajra Gupta | ICMR-SRF, PhD scholar |
| Ms Rutwija Athalye | PhD scholar |
Projects
Projects (Ongoing):
| No. | Title | Funding Agency |
| 1. | Study of Immune Responses in Patients with Long COVID- Multicentric with ICMR-NIV as the nodal institute (ICMR Task Force PM ABHIM Scheme) | ICMR |
| 2. | Evaluation of therapeutic potential of PVF-VEGF in trophoblast differentiation and placental spiral artery remodeling in murine models of Preeclampsia | DBT |
| 3. | Immune and microbiome correlates of TB reactivation in PLHIV and a NHP model | ICMR-NIH |
| 4. | Role of Complex N glycans and functional significance of Basigin in the testicular germ cells for Spermatogenesis | DST-INSPIRE |
| 5. | Omics of placental exosomes in early onset preeclampsia: an approach towards identifying predictive biomarkers | DBT |
| 6. | Investigating the role of Factor-H, a complement inhibitor, at the feto-maternal interface of women with Early and Late Onset Preeclampsia | DST-SERB-TARE |
| 7. | Investigating the in vitro and in vivo potential of rfhSP-D to inhibit prostate cancer metastasis and mechanistic involvement of GRP78 | ICMR-RA |
| 8. | Deciphering the mechanisms of innate immune surveillance in prostate cancer for immunotherapy | ICMR-NIRRCH |
Projects (Completed):
| No. | Title | Funding Agency | From | To |
| 1. | Investigating therapeutic potential of a recombinant fragment of human surfactant protein D against SARS-CoV-2: In vitro and animal models | BIRAC-PACE | 2021 | 2022 |
| 2. | Cross talk of Sertoli cells and N glycosylation deficient germ cells: Impact on male fertility | DBT | 2019 | 2023 |
| 3. | Deciphering the Role of Surfactant Protein D in Protecting Male Fertility During Infection and Inflammation | DST-SERB | 2017 | 2020 |
| 4. | Identification and development of a potential stem cell growth factor from the peri-vitelline fluid of the fertilized eggs of the Indian horseshoe crab for its application in stem cell research | DBT | 2015 | 2018 |
| 5. | Identification of the factors associated with susceptibility/ resistance to heterosexual HIV transmission among serodiscordant couples using proteomics | ICMR-DBT | 2013 | 2016 |
| 6. | Investigating the role of immune cells and mesenchymal stem cells in the pathogenesis of endometriosis | ICMR-PDF | 2010 | 2013 |
| 7. | Multi-laboratory evaluation of a synthetic peptide based ELISA (AfuPEPLISA) for detection of Aspergillus fumigatus specific antibodies in patients of asthma and pulmonary tuberculosis | DBT | 2011 | 2014 |
| 8. | Collectins and other immune related proteins in immunoregulation during pregnancy maintenance | DBT | 2009 | 2012 |
| 9. | Proteomics of Aspergillus fumigatus to identify novel virulent factors and drug resistance genes | DST-SERB | 2007 | 2010 |
| 10. | Anti-HIV activity of a formulation comprising rhSP-D (Medical Innovation Fund) | ICMR | 2009 | 2011 |
| 11. | Role of C-type lectins in female reproductive tract | ICMR-NIRRCH | 2009 | 2014 |
| 12. | Elucidating the Role of Surfactant Protein D(SP-D) in Prostate Cancer | ICMR-NIRRCH | 2015 | 2020 |
| 13. | Evaluation of factors affecting innate immunity in women with Pre-eclampsia (PE) | ICMR-NIRRCH | 2015 | 2020 |
Contact Us
Telephone: +(91-22)2419 2049
Email Id: innateimmunity[at]nirrch[dot]res[dot]in
| Name | Designation | Email Id | Phone no |
| Dr. Susan Thomas | Head and Scientist F | thomass[at]nirrch[dot]res[dot]in | +(91-22)2419 2107 |
| Dr. Taruna Madan | Visiting Faculty, Scientist G, ICMR-HQ | guptat[at]nirrch[dot]res[dot]in | +(91-22)2419 2049 |
| Dr. Barnali Biswas | DST-INSPIRE Faculty | barnali.biotech@gmail.com | +(91-22) 2419 2172 |
| Mr. Manish Ghosalkar | Sr. Technical Officer-2 | manishghosalkar70@gmail.com | +(91-22) 2419 2106 |
| Mr. Ramesh D Shinde | Laboratory Assistant | rameshshinde194@gmail.com | +(91-22) 2419 2106 |