Specialization

Plant-microbe/animal-microbe interaction, natural product-based drug discovery

Email

ssaxena@thapar.edu; Date of Joining: 07-03-2002

Professional Identity: LinkedIn

Academic Identities:  Google Scholar; Vidwan; Orcid; Research Gate

PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION

Ph. D. Biological Sciences spl. Fungal biotechnology*, 2000

Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Saraswati Vihar, Pachpedi, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), 482001, India | Department of Biological Sciences

* Thesis - Efficacy of microbial secondary metabolites to enhance the mycoherbicidal potential of some fungi for the management of Lantana camara L.

M.Sc. Biological Sciences spl. biotechnology**, 1996

Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Saraswati Vihar, Pachpedi, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), 482001, India | Department of Biological Sciences

** First class first position, Gold Medallist

B.Sc. (Hons.) Botany, 1992                                                     

University of Delhi, Delhi (India) | Swami Sharddhanand College, Alipur, Delhi 110036              

PROFESSIONAL SYNOPSIS

 

I have ensued over 22 years of exceptional leadership experience at the intersection of biotechnology, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals. My research primarily focuses on investigating the intricate interactions between plants and microbes in their natural environments. These interactions rely on a diverse array of signal molecules that play a vital role in facilitating communication. My work revolves around harnessing these plant-microbe interactions and delving into the exploration of novel biomolecules involved in the process. These biomolecules hold immense potential for enhancing agricultural productivity and can be utilized as valuable therapeutic agents in healthcare. To achieve this, I have spearheaded the development of innovative screening platforms for evaluating various biological activities.

My research encompasses a range of screening assays, including phytotoxic assays and physiological assays to assess both abiotic and biotic stresses in plant systems. Additionally, I have conducted extensive studies to identify antimicrobial agents, antioxidants, and anti-cancer compounds. Furthermore, I have dedicated efforts to discovering novel molecules that interfere with the mechanisms underlying the development of diseases such as Alzheimer's Dementia, Parkinson's disease, obesity, anti-gout/arthritic conditions, and type II diabetes. In recent years, I have ventured into the captivating realms of bioinformatics and machine learning. By integrating these cutting-edge disciplines into my research, I aim to unravel complex patterns and predict crucial outcomes in the realms of food security and medicine.

Through my multifaceted research career, I have consistently demonstrated a passion for pioneering breakthroughs at the intersection of biology, technology, and agriculture. I am committed to driving innovation, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, and translating scientific discoveries into practical solutions with profound societal impact.

"Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought”- Albert Szent-Gyorgi (1937)

RESEARCH ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• 03 Patents (01 US; 02 INDIAN) | one Indian patent filed
• Sponsored Research Projects completed: 11.1 million INR (1.11 crore rupees) from Govt. Agencies
• Developed State of the art -Animal tissue culture facility for Research & Teaching in 2009-2010
• Leading an independent research group in the area of Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Natural Products
• Scientific Contributions: >78 peer reviewed research publications | >10 peer reviewed Book Chapters | “Applied Microbiology” book (01) published by Springer & several presentations in National and International Conferences
• Research Networking: Pontifical Catholic University, Brazil | National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPER), India | Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa
• Intota Expert in the Area of Anti-Microbial Drugs and Clinical Microbiology
• Guided over 08 doctoral dissertations; 06 ongoing
• Guided over >65 graduate dissertations

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

2022

• Sheetal Vats, Rajesh Kondabala, Sanjai Saxena (2022). Identification of a-Synuclein Disaggregator from Camellia sp. Insight of Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics Simulations. ChemistrySelect; 7, e202104131. doi.org/10.1002/slct.202104131 (SCI-IF: 2.307)
• Sunil K. Deshmukh, Laurent Dufossé, Hemraj Chhipa, Sanjai Saxena, Girish B. Mahajan and Manish Kumar Gupta (2022). Fungal Endophytes: A Potential Source of Antibacterial Compounds. Journal of Fungi; 8, 164. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof8020164 (SCI-IF: 5.724)
• Vagish Dwibedi, Sahil Jain, Divya Singhal, Anuradha Mittal, Santosh Kumar Rath, Sanjai Saxena (2022). Inhibitory activities of grape bioactive compounds against enzymes linked with human diseases. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology; 106, 1399–1417. https://doi.org/10.10.07/s00253-022-11801-9 (SCI-IF: 5.560)
• Meshram, V., Kapoor N., Dwibedi, V., Srivastava, A. and Saxena, S (2022). Extracellular Resveratrol producing endophytic fungus, Quambalaria cyanescens. South African Journal of Botany; 146:409-416; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2021.11.026 (SCI-IF: 3.111)
• Dwibedi, V and Saxena, S (2022). Effect of precursor feeding, dietary supplementation, chemical elicitors, and co-culturing on Resveratrol production by Arcopilus aureus. Preparative Biochemistry & Biotechnology; 52(4): 404-412;  https://doi.org/10.1080/ 10826068. 2021.1955709 (SCI-IF: 3.141)

2021

• Dwibedi, V., Rath, S.K., Prakash, R., Saxena, S (2021). Response surface statistical optimization of fermentation parameters for resveratrol production by the endophytic fungus Arcopilus aureus and its tyrosinase inhibitory activity. Biotechnology Letters; 43(3): 627-644. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-020-03032-7(SCI-IF: 2.716)
• Sanjai Saxena & Gary A. Strobel (2021). Marvelous Muscodor spp.: Update on Their Biology and Applications. Microbial Ecology; 82: 5-20; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-020-01644-0 (SCI-IF: 4.19

2020

• Lokesh Gambhir, Neha Kapoor, and Sanjai Saxena (2020). The anti-staphylococcal potential of Fusarium sp: fungal endophyte isolated from Rauwolfia serpentina. J. of Microbiol. Biotech Food Sci.; 10 (2): 235-240 (Scopus).
• Vagish Dwibedi, S Kalia, Sanjai Saxena (2019). Isolation and enhancement of resveratrol production in Xylaria psidii by exploring the phenomenon of epigenetics: using DNA methyltransferases and histone deacetylase as epigenetic modifiers. Molecular Biology Reports 46: 123–4137 (SCI-IF: 2.742)
• Sanjay Kumar, Amol Dilip Pagar, Furkan Ahmad, Vagish Dwibedi, Aabid Wani, Prasad V. Bharatam, M. Chhibber, Sanjai Saxena, Inder Pal Singh (2019). Xanthine oxidase inhibitors from an endophytic fungus Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae. Bioorganic Chemistry 87: 851-856 (SCI-IF: 5.307  

2019

• Vagish Dwibedi and Sanjai Saxena (2019). Diversity and phylogeny of resveratrol-producing culturable endophytic fungi from Vitis species in India. 3Biotech 9:182 (SCI-IF: 2.893)
• Neha Kapoor, Lokesh Gambhir, and Sanjai Saxena (2019). Fungal endophytes as the repository of xanthine oxidase inhibitors. Indian Drugs 56(3):  07-11 (SCOPUS)
• Lokesh Gambhir, Vineet Sharma, Pankaj Kandwal, Sanjai Saxena (2019). Perturbation in cellular redox homeostasis: Decisive regulator of T cell-mediated immune responses. International Immunopharmacology 67: 449-457 (SCI-IF: 5.714)
• D Singh, A Babbar, V Jain, D Gupta, S Saxena, V Dwibedi (2019). Synthesis, characterization, and bioactivity investigation of biomimetic biodegradable PLA scaffold fabricated by the fused filament fabrication process. J Braz. Soc. Mech. Sci. Eng. 41: 121 (SCI-IF: 2.361; Citation: 41)
• Sanjai Saxena, Manmohan Chhibber, and I. P. Singh (2019). Fungal bioactive compounds in Pharmaceutical Research and Development. Current Bioactive Compounds 15 (2): 211-231(SCOPUS)

Book Chapter (Peer reviewed)

• S.K. Deshmukh, K.R. Sridhar, Sanjai Saxena and M.K. Gupta (2022): Recent Advances in the Discovery of Bioactive Metabolites from Xylaria Hill ex Schrank.  In: Arya, A., Rusevska, K. (eds) Biology, Cultivation and Applications of Mushrooms. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-6257-7_3
• Sanjai Saxena (2021): Biologically Active secondary metabolites from Endophytic Alternaria species. In: Patil RH., Maheshwari VL. (eds). Endophytes: Potential Source of Compounds of Commercial and Therapeutic Applications. Springer Nature Publishing Group, Singapore; 1–20; doi:10.1007/978-981-15-9371-0_1 (March 2021)
• Mahiti Gupta, Sanjai Saxena, Vineet Meshram (2020): Microbial Clot Busters: An Overview of Source, Production, Properties and Fibrinolytic Activity. In: Singh J., Meshram V., Gupta M. (eds) Bioactive Natural products in Drug Discovery. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1394-7_17

AWARDS & HONOURS

Individual

2018	DST- Lockheed Martin-Tata Trusts–FICCI-India Innovation Growth Program (IIGP) 2.0 University Challenge 2018 Award, for Rs. 10 Lakh under the Social Theme for Innovative product development to enhance shelf life of fruits and vegetables at the Farm end and Transportation, at Hotel Taj Mahal, Man Singh Road, New Delhi on August 02, 2018
2018	Challenge for Change-Innovation/Start-up Award received by Mrs. Vasundhara Raje CM (Rajasthan), for Rs. 25 lakhs for a solution to enhance the shelf life of agricultural produce by the Department of IT & Communications, Govt. of Rajasthan at Digifest held on 27th July 2018 at Bikaner.
2014	Eminent Microbiologist Award by Association for Advancement of Biodiversity Science, Dharwad, Karnataka, India
2013	FABS (Fellow of Association for Advancement of Biodiversity Science), Dharwad, Karnataka
2012	Bharat Jyoti Award, India International Friendship Society, New Delhi
2012	M.J Thirumalachar Merit award, for best poster presentation by Mycological Society of India (MSI), Chennai, India at National Conference on Mycodiversity with its Sustainable Exploration and Biotechnological Applications & 38th MSI meeting, Shri Shivaji Science College, Amravati-444603, Maharashtra, & Department of Botany, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University on 6-7 Feb.2012
2010	Biographed in Marquis Who’s Who World
2006	Biographed in Marquis Who’s Who Asia
2001	ICSU-INSA Travel Award, Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi, India for giving an Invited talk at the British Mycological Society (BMS) symposium” Fungal Metabolites: Impact and Exploitation” held at the University of Wales, Swansea (UK).
1999	Best Oral Presentation in Young Scientist Session at an International Conference of Plant–pathogen interactions, Osmania University, Hyderabad
1997-2000	Junior Research Fellow, Indian Council for Forestry Research & Education (ICFRE), Dehradun
1996	T. D. Dharmadhikari Gold Medal and Certificate of Merit for securing first class first position in M. Sc. Biological Science at Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur
1996	Qualified GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) examination in Life Sciences
1991	Certificate of Merit, for standing first in the Annual Examination of Second Year of B.Sc. (Hons.) Botany course at Swami Sharddhanand College, University of Delhi.

Start-up based

2022	AGPHARM BIOINNOVATIONS LLP is the winner of the Best Early-stage startup category of ROAR-Punjab’s biggest Idea hunt on 31st August 2002 from CM Punjab, S. Bhagwant Mann at Kalkat Bhawan Mohali on 5th September 2022.  Comprises of a Cash prize of Rs. 2 Lakhs.
2021	AGPHARM BIOINNOVATIONS LLP is selected as a game-changer startup in the Food Systems Game Changers Lab (FSGCL), a global program for supporting ideas, enterprises, and initiatives that have the potential to transform our world’s food systems. This program is jointly supported by EAT, IDEO, Thought for Food (TFF), and The Rockefeller Foundation.
2021	FLCTD (Facility for low carbon utility) Accelerator program by SANGAM VENTURES: Successfully completed the UNIDO, GEF, and Atal Innovation Mission program, shortlisted among the top 8 for the Demo Day to the Jury comprising of Investors.
2020	AGPHARM BIOINNOVATIONS LLP wins the Social Alpha Quest for Agritech Innovations band and becomes a part of the first cohort of the India Agritech Incubation Network (IAIN) jointly promoted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Tata Trusts, and SIIC, IIT Kanpur.

AD-HOC REFREE / EDITORIAL BOARD

Ad-hoc reviewer to the following journals

2003	●	Journal of Plant Physiology	●	Indian Journal of Pharmacology	●	Indian Journal of Exptl. Biology
2004	●	Indian J of Pharmacology	●	Letters in Applied Microbiology
2005	●	Indian J of Pharmacology
2006	●	Indian J of Pharmacology	●	Journal of Applied Microbiology
2007	●	Journal of Appl. Microbiology	●	Letters in Applied Microbiology
2008	●	Jour. of Ethnopharmacology	●	Journal of Applied Microbiology
2009	●	Jour. of Ethnopharmacology	●	Journal of Applied Microbiology
2010	●	Biocontrol Science & Tech.	●	Letters in Applied Microbiology	●	Jour. of Ethnopharmacology
2011	●	Letters in Appl. Microbiology	●	Jour. of Ethnopharmacology	●	Pharmaceutical Biology
2012	●	Pharmaceutical Biology	●	Jour. of Ethnopharmacology	●	Appl. Microbiol. & Biotech.
2013	●	Journal of Basic Microbiology	●	Journal of Food Biochemistry	●	Indian Journal of Microbiology
2014	●	Journal of Food Biochemistry	●	Jour. of Ethnopharmacology	●	Journal of Basic Microbiology
2015	●	Appl. Microbiol. & Biotech.	●	Indian J of Pharmacologay	●	Crop Protection
2016	●	Sydowia	●	Canadian J of Microbiology	●	BMC Complement. & Alt. Med.
2017	●	Appl. Microbiol. & Biotech.
2018	●	Mycologia	●	Microbiology Open
2019	●	Methods X
2020	●	Current Microbiology
2021	●	Microbial Ecology	●	Indian Journal of Microbiology

Editorial Board Member

2022	Associate Editor, Frontiers in Fungal Biology
2022	Review Editor, Microbiotechnology section in Frontiers in Microbiology/ Frontiers in Bioengineering & Biotechnology
2020	Review Editor, Frontiers in Fungal Biology
2019	Editorial Board Member, MycoAsia
2014- to date	Editorial Board Member, Journal of Pharmaceutical Technology, Research and Management

SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS

• Life member, Association for Advancement of Biodiversity Science, India
• Life Member, International Society of Fungal Conservation
• Life member, Society for Basic and Applied Mycology, India
• Life member, Mycological Society of India (MSI), Chennai
• Life member, Association for promotion of DNA fingerprinting and other related technologies (ADNAT), Hyderabad, India
• Member, American Nano Society

EXPERT FOR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

2021	●	Expert, AICTE New Delhi
2019	●	Member, Research Advisory Council, Chitkara University, Institute of Engineering & Technology; Rajpura, Punjab
2018	●	Lead (Chair) Screening LoI’s under the 5th BioCARe Projects Call, DBT, Ministry of Science & Technology, GoI
2018	●	Expert Member in 4th review committee of BioCARe Projects, DBT, Ministry of Science & Technology, GoI
2017	●	Reviewer of Sponsored Projects, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science & Technology, GoI
2016	●	Expert Member in review committee of BioCARe Projects, DBT, Ministry of Science & Technology, GoI
2014	●	Reviewer / Expert for SERB projects, DST, GoI
2013	●	Expert Reviewer for NER Twinning projects (Aromatic & Medicinal Plants), DST, GoI
2008-2009	●	Expert Member, Central Ayurvedic Pharmaceutical Testing Reference Laboratory, Patiala
	●	Expert Reviewer, International Collaborative Projects, DBT, GoI
2007	●	Expert, Biotechnology and Life Sciences Research for Science and Technology Roadmap of 10 (ten) life sciences Laboratories of Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO)

ACADEMIC EXPERT/ RESOURCE PERSON

2022	●	External Ph.D. examiner, AcSIR – CSIR, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu
	●	External Ph.D. examiner, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal 576104
	●	External Ph.D. examiner, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab
2021	●	External Ph.D. examiner, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, Punjab
	●	External Ph.D. examiner, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab
2018	●	External Ph.D. examiner, North East Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, Meghalaya
2014	●	External M. Phil examiner, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, Punjab
2011	●	External examiner, Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Mullana, Haryana
	●	External examiner, Ambala College of Engineering, Mithapur, Ambala (Kurukshetra University)
2009	●	External M. Phil examiner, Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh)
2008	●	External Ph.D. Examiner, for Bharathiar University, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu)
2012	●	External M. Phil examiner, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, Punjab

CONFERENCES & WORKSHOPS ORGANIZED

2018	●	Convener, International Conference on Drug Discovery: Biotech and Pharma at Crossroads, 15-17th Feb 2018, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala.
2017	●	Coordinator, Summer Training Program in “Advances in Modern Biotechnology”, 05th June 2017-12th July 2017, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala
2014	●	Coordinator, Summer Training Program in Modern Biotechnology from 09 June 2014-15 July 2014, TIFAC- Centre for Relevance and Excellence (CORE) in Agro and Industrial Biotechnology, Thapar University, Patiala.

ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES

• Founded the first faculty spinoff in Biotechnology at Thapar Institute ( December 2018 onwards), AGPHARM BIOINNOVATIONS LLP which is being incubated at the Science and Technology Entrepreneurs Park (STEP), Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala. 
• COORDINATOR (HEAD) of CENTRE FOR RELEVANCE & EXCELLENCE (CORE) In AGRO & INDUSTRIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY (September 2013-February 2017). I was involved in brandishing the centre, expanding the research horizon as per the current scenario, networking with industries like PEPSICO INDIA LTD., McCAIN, TECH MAHINDRA, BILT TREE TECH. Looking into financials of the centre to be self-sustaining entity, providing technical, infrastructural support to students, researchers (students as well as faculty), within the institute and in the region, submission of grant applications (bilateral/National/ multinational)
• DEPUTY COORDINATOR, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ENTREPREURS PARK (STEP) (2006-2007). I was instrumental in brand development for enhancing the concept of entrepreneurship in Agro and Industrial Biotechnology, apart from providing day to day administrative support in operations of STEP
• Member of Project review committee for competitive research grants in Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India and SERB (Science & Engineering Research Board), Department of Science & Technology. I am also an expert on the project review committee of AICTE project and infrastructure proposals.
• Expert Member for Biotechnology & Life Sciences Research for S&T Roadmap of 10 (ten) life science laboratories of Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India and for developing collaboration with academia

TEACHING EXPERIENCE (+20 years)

UG Courses

Applied Microbiology (BT003)	Bioanalytical Techniques (BT005)	Biomanufacturing (BT014)
Biochemistry II (UBT303)	Medical Biotechnology (UBT609)	Drug Design & Development (UBT835)

PG Courses

Biochemistry (PBT003)	Bioenergetics & Metabolism (PBC201)	Industrial Enzyme Tech (PBY204)
Microbial Biotechnology (PBT206)	Drug Discovery & Design (PBC401)	Animal Biotechnology (PBC 301)
Pharmaceutical Microbiology (PBC 301)	Drug Discovery & Development (PBY305)

Current Courses taken

Biochemistry II (UBT303)

Drug Design & Development (UBT835)

Biopharmaceuticals & Pharmaceutical Technology (PBY202)