Nirjal Bhattarai

Nirjal Bhattarai is a senior scientist and branch chief at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).13 Here are some key details about his background and current role:

Education and Training

Dr. Bhattarai earned his Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine.1 After completing his doctoral studies, he pursued postdoctoral training in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.1

Career at FDA

Currently, Dr. Bhattarai serves as the Chief of the Tumor Vaccine and Biotechnology Branch at the FDA.3 He is part of the Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, specifically working in the Division of Cellular and Gene Therapies.1

Research Focus

Dr. Bhattarai's research primarily focuses on:

1. Studying how RNA viruses of the Flaviviridae family evade host immune responses
2. Developing novel immunomodulatory gene therapy vectors with lower immunogenicity profiles
3. Investigating inflammatory toxicities associated with engineered T cell therapies, such as CAR-T cells

The long-term goal of his lab is to develop innovative strategies to enhance the safety and efficacy of gene and cell therapy products.1

Notable Achievements

Early in his career, Dr. Bhattarai made significant discoveries regarding viral immune evasion mechanisms, particularly in relation to GB virus C (formerly known as hepatitis G virus), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and Yellow Fever virus (YFV).1

Professional Network

Dr. Bhattarai maintains an active presence on LinkedIn under the username "nirjalbhattarai".2 His profile indicates that he has over 500 connections in the Washington DC-Baltimore Area.2