Dr Krishanpal Karmodiya, a prominent faculty member in the Department of Biology at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune, has achieved global recognition by joining the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Global Investigator Network. This prestigious accolade highlights his groundbreaking research into Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for malaria, and its mechanisms of drug resistance.
Dr Karmodiya’s journey into malaria research began during his PhD at JNCASR Bangalore in 2003, where his fascination with the parasite’s ability to adapt to treatments and its lack of an effective vaccine became his focus. His work now zeroes in on artemisinin resistance, a critical issue in malaria treatment. Artemisinin, widely used to combat malaria, faces increasing threats from emerging resistance, which could potentially undermine decades of progress in controlling the disease.
Under his leadership, IISER Pune researchers have achieved significant milestones, including sequencing over 2,000 parasite genomes to identify genetic mutations associated with drug resistance. Notably, his team’s analysis of isolates from Midnapur, the site of India’s first reported artemisinin resistance case, uncovered novel mutations linked to resistance. Despite these advances, challenges remain in identifying definitive resistance markers in Indian isolates due to the parasite’s genetic diversity.
As part of the EMBO network, Dr Karmodiya joins an elite group of 11 global scientists, including four from India. This recognition grants him access to advanced technologies, expert collaborations, and opportunities to refine his research. His future focus includes exploring alternative treatments, early detection of resistance, and innovative parasite control strategies by investigating how genes regulate its survival. His work holds immense promise for addressing malaria’s public health burden in India, where 176,522 cases and 83 deaths were reported in 2022, with Maharashtra alone witnessing 109 malaria-related fatalities in 2023.
