Dr. Naresh K

Academic Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, India, 2007-12
• M.Sc. in Biotechnology, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India, 2004-06
• B.Sc. in Biotechnology, Kakatiya University, Warangal, India, 2001-04 (Institute Gold Medallist)
• P.G. Diploma in Medical Device Management, Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India, New Delhi, India (2021-22, E-learnig mode)
• P.G. Diploma in Computer Applications, New National Institute of Computer Education, Warangal, India (2001-02, part-time)

Professional Record

• Scientist-D (Applied Biology), Div. of Tissue Culture, Dept. of Applied Biology, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum, India, Jan 2024 - to date.
• Scientist-C (Applied Biology), Div. of Tissue Culture, Dept. of Applied Biology, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum, India, Oct 2017 - Dec 2023.
• Postdoctoral Research Assistant & Co-Lab Manager, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, Jan 2016 - Aug 2017.
• Postdoctoral Fellow/Junior Research Scientist, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Prague, Czech Republic, Oct 2012 - Dec 2016. Includes: Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK during Jul 2014 - Dec 2014 (Visit sponsored by Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Prague, Czech Republic).
• Lecturer in Biotechnology, Government City College, Hyderabad, India, Jun 2006 - Dec 2006.

Honors

• Editorial Board Member: Journal of Translational Medicine - Springer Nature (2025), Journal of Biological Engineering - BioMed Central Ltd (2025), International Journal of Biomaterials - Wiley Group (2025), and Biotechnology for Sustainable Materials - Springer Nature (2024).
• Invited Session Co-Chair and Oral Presentation Evaluation Panel Member: International Conference on Biomedical Materials Innovations 2020, organized by SBAOI and STERMI in association with Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 2020.
• Scientific Committee Member: 5th European Young Engineers Conference, organized by the Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland, 2016.
• Young Investigator Session Co-Chair: Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society European Chapter Meeting held at Istanbul, Turkey, 2013.

Awards

• Agathiar Chemical Biology Award: In recognition of outstanding contributions in the field of biomedical sciences by the Society for Chemical and Synthetic Biology, India, 2023.
• Shri OP Sharma Young Scientist Award: In recognition of outstanding contributions in the field of biomedical sciences by the Indian Academy of Biomedical Sciences, Lucknow, 2022.
• Sentinel of Science Award: In recognition of the contribution to peer-review in the field of Biochemistry, Genetics & Molecular Biology, by Publons, New Zealand, 2016.
• Best Lecture Award: Career in Polymer Workshop organized by UNESCO, IUPAC, CEEPN and Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Prague, Czech Republic, 2013.
• Bajpai - Saha Best Presentation Award: International Conference on Biomaterials, Artificial Organs & Tissue Engineering organized by SBAOI, Cochin, India, 2010.

Area of Interest

• Mesenchymal stem cells and exosomal based therapeutics for regenerative medicine applications.
• 3D Bioprinting and electrospinning based approaches for fabrication of engineered tissues in vitro.
• Silk fibroin and other natural polymers based biomaterials for biomedical and other allied areas.

Collaboration

• Actively looking for clinical and academic collaborators to work towards developing tissue engineered models and regenerative therapeutics.

Current Activities

• Research: Involved in the development of stem cells and biomaterials based tissue engineered models and regenerative therapeutics.
• Testing & consultancy: Offers testing and consultancy services related to in vitro cytotoxicity as per ISO 10993-5 under ISO/IEC 17025 quality platform.
• Teaching: Involved in teaching modules such as Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine for MPhil, MTech and PhD courses.
• Supervision: Involved in supervision of MPhil, MTech, MSc, BTech students and other trainees on various themes of biomedical technologies.
• Administration: Delegation of charges on behalf of Scientist-in-Charge, Division of Tissue Culture when required.

Patents

• Indian Patents: 02 granted and 04 under processing
• Indian Design Registrations: 03 (granted)

Membership

• Elected/ Nominated Member: National Academy of Sciences, India (2018), Royal Society of Biology, United Kingdom (2017).
• Elected Associated Member: Royal Society of Chemistry, United Kingdom (2016).
• Registered Member: European Federation of Biotechnology, Spain (2014).
• Life Member: AMSI (2021), SAAEI (2021), MRSI (2021), SPSI (2021), APA (2021), ISQ (2019), ISCB (2018), ABAP (2018), BRSI (2018), ISCA (2018), IABS (2018), SBAOI (2009), STERMI (2009), and BMESI (2009).
• Student Member: Controlled Release Society - Indian Chapter (2009).

On-going Projects

• Do mesenchymal stem cell derived extracellular vesicles directly inhibit fibrotic pathways or act via immune modulation?: Investigating their therapeutic mechanisms in pulmonary fibrosis (PI, ICMR-SG, 2026-29).
• Establishment of National Facility for Biocompatibility Testing of Medical Devices at BMT Wing, SCTIMST, Trivandrum funded through "Assistance to Medical Device Clusters - Common Facilities (AMD-CF)" scheme by the Dept. Pharmaceuticals, Govt. of India (Role: Co-PI, Duration: 2025-ongoing).
• Evaluation of biotransformation of drugs using 3D Bioprinted Hepatotoxicity Test System by Metabolite Analysis (Co-I, Technology Development Fund, SCTIMST, 2024-26).

Projects Completed

• Development of Biopolymeric Orthopaedic Fixtures (PI, DST Technology Resource Centre Fund, SCTIMST, 2023-25).
• 3D Printing of Skin Tissue Constructs for In-vitro Testing and Applications - Phase II (Co-I, DST Technology Resource Centre Fund, SCTIMST, 2023-25).
• Pre-validation of in vitro hepatotoxicity test of drugs using 3D Bioprinted liver construct (Co-I, Technology Development Fund, SCTIMST, 2021-23).
• 3D Printing of Skin Tissue Constructs for In-vitro Testing and Applications (Co-I, DST Technology Resource Centre Fund, SCTIMST, 2018-21).
• Bioceramic Cages with Axially Aligned Pores as a Substitute for Tricortical Bone Graft (Co-PI, DST Technology Resource Centre Fund, SCTIMST, 2019-21).
• Cytocompatibility Evaluation of Biomaterials and Medical Devices (Co-PI, DST Technology Resource Centre Fund, SCTIMST, 2018-21).
• Development of Human-on-a-Chip Device Technology: A Paradigm Shift in Biological Evaluation and Disease Model (Co-I, DST, 2018-21).
• Stem Cell Derived Exosome Therapy for Clinical Management of Lung Damage in Critically-ill Corona Viral Pneumonia Patients (PI, DST SERB, 2020-21).
• Corneal epithelial cell sheet engineering: validation and pre-clinical evaluation (PI, DST Technology Resource Centre Fund, SCTIMST, 2020-22).

Desertations Supervised

• Ph.D.: 02 ongoing, M.Phil.: 01 completed, M.Sc.: 13 completed, M.Tech.: 02 completed and B.Tech.: 01 completed.

Training

• Workshop on ISO/IEC 17025:2017 - Risk Management Requirements & Implementation in Laboratories, organized by Quality Council of India, New Delhi (03 Jun 2022).
• EMBO Workshop on Laboratory Leadership organized by European Molecular Biology Organization and DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance (India Alliance), Hyderabad (Virtual mode, 01-04 Mar 2021).
• 10th Training Program on Science Technology & Emerging Trends in Governance for Scientists & Technologists, organized by Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi (08-12 Feb 2021).
• Laboratory Accreditation & Internal Quality Audit as per ISO/IEC 17025:2017 conducted by Q-India Consulting Services Pvt. Ltd., Kochi, India (12-15 Feb 2018).
• XXI Animal Handling Training Program conducted by Division of Laboratory Animals, Biomedical Technology Wing, SCTIMST, Thiruvananthapuram, India (11-16 Dec 2017).

Organisational Activities

• Organizing Secretary: International Conference on Advances and Challenges in Medical Technology Translation (TransMedTech-2024) organized jointly by SCTIMST, Trivandrum and Society for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (India) and Society for Biomaterials and Artificial Organs (India) (12-14 Dec 2024).
• Organizing Secretary, National Workshop on Microscopy and Image Analysis, SCTIMST Thiruvananthapuram (2019)

Team

• PhD scholars: Ms. Anagha Sunilkumar (2024 on wards) and Ms. Shana Thasneem (2026 onwards)

Books and Journals edited

• Guest Editor, Special Issue on Frontiers in 3D Printing and Bioprinting: Innovations and Applications in Regenerative Medicine, In Vitro Toxicology, and Beyond - International Journal of Bioprinting - AccScience (2024-25), Link https://accscience.com/journal/IJB/special_issues/Frontiers
• Guest Editor, Special Issues on Advanced Tissue Engineering Scaffolds, Bioengineering - MDPI Journal (2017-18), Link
• Guest Editor, Special Issues on Nano-Tissue Engineering: Nanomaterials and Nanoengineered Systems in Fabricating Artificial Tissues, Journal of Nanomaterials - Hindawi Journal (2020-21), Link
• Editor, Biomedical Applications of Electrospinning and Electrospraying 1st Edition, Elsevier Woodhead Publishing (2021), ISBN 9780128224762, Link
• Editor, Biomaterials in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine 1st Edition, Springer Nature (2021), ISBN 9789811600012, Link
• Editor, Natural Polymers in Wound Healing and Repair 1st Edition, Elsevier Woodhead Publishing (2022), ISBN 9780323905145, Link

Select Publications

• Google Scholar Link

Reviewer

• Publons Link