Praveen Kumar Vemula

Praveen Kumar Vemula is an Associate Professor at the Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem) in Bangalore, India.12 He leads the Laboratory of Self-Assembled Biomaterials and Translational Research, where his team focuses on developing next-generation biomaterials for various biomedical applications.14

Research Focus

Dr. Vemula's research primarily revolves around:

1. Creating self-assembled biomaterials for efficient delivery of nucleic acids and small molecular drugs.1
2. Developing novel concepts and biomaterials to address unmet biomedical and clinical needs.1
3. Designing nanomaterials for applications such as treating brain cancer, arthritis, and contact dermatitis.2

His lab aims to translate laboratory innovations into clinical therapies, with the ultimate goal of developing treatments that can rapidly move from the lab to the clinic.24

Career Highlights

• Current Position: Associate Professor and Head of Research at iBRIC-inStem.3
• Previous Roles:
  • Kauffman Foundation Entrepreneur Postdoc Fellow at Harvard Medical School (2009-2012).2
  • Postdoctoral Fellow at City College of New York, City University of New York (2005-2007).2

Education

• Ph.D. in Bionanomaterials from Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore (1998-2004).2
• M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry from Osmania University (1996-1998).2
• B.Sc. in Botany, Zoology, and Chemistry from Osmania University (1992-1995).2

Achievements and Impact

Dr. Vemula has made significant contributions to the field of biomaterials and translational research:

• Published over 90 peer-reviewed papers and given more than 200 invited lectures, including three TEDx talks.3
• Holds over 30 issued or pending national/international patents, which have been licensed to multiple biotech companies.3
• His technologies have led to the launch of 7 startup companies and over 25 products in the market worldwide.3

Dr. Vemula's work spans various areas, including biomaterials, drug discovery, drug delivery, medical devices, and chemical biology.3 His research has practical applications in treating conditions such as inflammatory bowel diseases, alcohol liver disease, sepsis, and enhancing the quality and shelf-life of stored blood.3