Dr Krishanpal Karmodiya from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, is among the 11 scientists selected to be part of the prestigious Global Investigator Network of the European Molecular Biology Association (EMBO). "I am grateful for this recognition as it highlights our contributions to understanding drug resistance in plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for malaria,” Dr Karmodiya told The Indian Express. Karmodiya is among the five life scientists from India who got the opportunity to be included as the newest members of the EMBO Global Investigator. Prem Kaushal and Rajender Motiani from Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, Bhavana Muralidharan from Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine, Bengaluru, and Jogender Singh from IISER, Mohali, are the four others from India. EMBO is an organisation of more than 2,000 leading researchers that promotes excellence in life sciences. Over the last 60 years it has grown from the early pioneering days of molecular biology and made several contributions to promote the development of life sciences. Dr Karmodiya, a faculty member in the Department of Biology at IISER Pune, said that their research group has contributed to the understanding of genetic markers associated with artemisinin resistance by analysing over 2,000 genomes. His group's research has focused on the cellular and genetic determinants of resistance to artemisinin, a critical drug in malaria treatment. The research on key chromatin regulators implicated in drug resistance is well cited and has been received with great interest by the scientific community. A recent study by Dr Karmodiya’s group was also able to identify novel mutations linked to resistance mechanisms. At a time when the World Malaria Report has noted a decrease in India's malaria caseload and the country exiting the High-Burden-High-Impact group of countries, this selection to the EMBO network is crucial to the work undertaken by Dr Karmodiya. "We will be able to exchange expertise with other EMBO members, particularly in chromatin biology and advanced genomic tools which are crucial for our works. Participation in conferences will also help build meaningful conversations,” he said The EMBO Global Investigator Network supports young group leaders in Chile, India, Singapore and Taiwan, and, in a pilot project, in Africa. Membership in the EMBO Global Investigator Network offers support to early- and mid-career scientists for a period of four years.
